'File 4/1 General Information regarding Kuwait and Hinterland' [‎231r] (461/474)

V
CONFIDENTIAL
No.B/PG/20
The Honourable,
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ,
HAS
Office of Staff Officer
(Intelligence), Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
“‘th April, 1948
i
- MISHAAB
The following report is submitted in accordance with your request
Ras-al-Mishaab was chosen as the most advantageous point for the
discharge of material in connection with the Trans-Arabian Pipeline,
although the problem of berthing was rendered difficult in view of
shallow water.
In consequence, an island was constructed in sufficient depth of
water to accommodate two cargo ships alongside. A M Y" shaped pier
has been constructed inshore and barges brought in sections from the
United States have been assembled and are used for seefciens-f?em-%he
United-Statess the purpose of off-loading. The nature of the beach
in this area favours the use of flat-bottomed craft which dry out at-
low water. *
The island forms the seaward end of an overhead lifting and con-
vepying cable referred to as a "sky-hook" with a lifting capacity of
approximately ten tons. The pipes will be conveyed in sections
weighing approximately three tons, each section consisting of two
pipes one fitting inside the other. Pipes will be carried inland
and assembled for future installation. It is anticipated that
operations will commence in May.
International Bechtel Incorporated are constructing the pipeline
and the numbers of personnel employed are shewn hereunders-
Amerleans 450
British 2 (Gray Mackenzie & Customs rep.)
Native Labourers 1200
Native labour is largely drawn from Bahrain, but Saudi Arabs are
now being employed as truck drivers etc.
A wire perimeter fence 8 feet high has been constructed against
the many Bedouins camped in the vicinity for the obvious purpose of
looting.
The air-strip generally defined as the R.A.F. emergency landing-
ground, is in daily use by the Arabian American Oil Company.
The following information has been extracted from my Naval
Periodical Summary, October-November, 1947:-
(vi). Tides - Rise and Fall (Maximum) 9 ft.
(viii) . Road Distances - Dhahran - Ras-al-Mishaab 186 miles
Ras Tanura - Ras-al-Mishaab 143 miles
(xxii) Lighters and Tugs - At present there are 4 ordinary lighters c
approximately 200 tons each and one big flattop available. There
are one big tug, the M/S "Ras Tanura" and 3 native type motor-
launches in Mishaab.
(xxiii). Facilities for discharge of lighters ahsore - There is a
small "Y" shaped pier 2/3 miles from the anchorage where two light
ers at a time, one at each arm, can be discharged and there are two
cranes on wheels, one of 6 tons and the other of 15 tons lifting
capacity. I understand, however, that this arrangement is only
temporary as there will be built a pier where oceangoing cargo ships
can go alongside and discharge cargo.
(xxiv) Stores etc - There are no stores, provisions or water avail
able in Ras-al-Mishaab and no facilities for repair work of any kind.