'Second Memorandum on the Lighting and Buoyage of the Persian Gulf' [‎151r] (4/6)

The Lig-ht-vessel.
Viceroy's telegram, 15th May 1912.
P. 1838/12.
The Lighted Buoys.
Telegram of Secretary of State to
Viceroy, 8rd April 1912.
P. 1149/12.
* Vide draft Convention forming An
nex 2 to the Memorandum communicated
to the Turkish Ambassador 18th July
1912.
P. 2783/12.
The Unlit Buoys.
Telegram of Secretary of State to
Viceroy, 27th May 1912.
P. 1838/12.
The Lighthouse Tender.
Report of Committee, 29th April 1909.
para. 12.
Letter of Director of the Royal Indian
Max-ine, 31st August 1912.
P. 3707/12.
Govemment once more with a view to the "Tint
a i/ 0 M CeSS10n r sa -y. » lease for 99 years-wht}.
bv Hi ^ 0W f M lthouse t0 b e built and worked
by His Majesty's Government. worKea
If it were not for flip pyt ^ ov . c -« ^ i
nf tlic u 111 P nse > ^ §' 0 od way out
oi the difficulty would be the substitution "of a
ight-vessel for the proposed lighthouse. The cost
and 4mf e, l ^ Stated ab0Ve ' is 8 ' OOM - initia l.
and tOOt. annual recurring. The corresponding
figures for the cost of a light-vessel, according to
Innitj House estimates, are 9,500i. initial, and
i mnual recurring. (The Indian authorities
aye, however, stated that they could themselves
build a light-vessel for 1,080^. less, i.e., 8,mi see
paragraph 5 below.)
o. On the lecommendation of the Grovernment
of India the light-vessel for the Shatt-al-Arab is
being constructed in Bombay Dockyard, where
light-vessels have been built for the Bay of Bengal.
According to latest information, it is anticipated
that a saving of 1,080L may be effected on the
sanctioned estimate (9,500Z.)
The iron mast, lantern, &c. are to be sent out
from home.
6. Five lighted buoys have been sent out (in
addition to the lighted buoy provided for the outer
bar of the Shatt-al-Arab in 1911). The sixth,
intended for the inner bar of the Shatt-al-Arab, is
not for the present being supplied, in view of the
negotiations opened with the Turkish Government
for the establishment of a Shatt-al-Arab Navigation
Commission.
7. The unlit buoys are, like the light-vessel,
being constructed in Bombay Dockyard on the
recommendation of the Government of India.
8. A matter in which no progress has yet been
made is that of the lighthouse tender.
The Committee that reported after local inquiry
in 1909 on the lighting and buoyage of the Persian
Gulf regarded it as imperative that a specially
constructed steamer should be provided to act as
a lighthouse tender, and Mr. D. W. Hood, the
expert member of the Committee, wrote in his
Supplementary ReportI estimate her cost,
" delivered in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , after coustruction
in England, at 30,00$. The Indian Government
" from their own experience will be able to estimate
" what her annual maintenance would be in the
" East, but it would probably amount to about
" 5,0001. per annum, inclusive of wages, repairs,
" coal, stores, and all charges."
These figures— initial expenditure dU,UUUt., and
annual recurring 5,000L—represent the maximum
estimate sanctioned by the Secretary of State m
Council and the Treasury, but the plans received
from India are for a larger vessel than that contem
plated, and one that would cost very much more to
maintain The matter is still under consideration.