'Report of a committee of enquiry on the lighting and buoyage of the Persian Gulf. 1909' [‎5r] (9/18)

9
Although it is feared that the cost of building a suitable structure on an
exposed site, such as the reef, may be considered prohibitive, no other
position offers equal advantages from a navigational point of view.
The only alternative is to establish a light vessel about 5 miles north
east of the reef in such a position that the range of visibility will overlap
that of the gas boat or smaller vessel at the entrance to the channel, to
ensure that either one or the other will be seen by a ship approaching from
the north.
There are numerous dangers in the approaches to this port. The tides
in the locality are strong, and uncertain in direction. A large and totally
unexpected set is no uncommon experience, and it is regarded as essential
that when the lighting of Bahrein is undertaken it should be carried out as
a whole, i.e., the making light be established at the same time as the channel
light and buoys.
Fasht ad Dibal shoal was visited and examined, but a detailed survey and
borings will be necessary before any work is undertaken on the reef.
Debal.
There has recently been a considerable increase in trade at thi^ place
and it may be expected to still further develop. Mail and other steamers
call there regularly, and it is recommended that a port light similar to that
already proposed for Lingah be established on the sea front.
Local arrangements for the efficient maintenance of this light can be
made.
Order of Importance.
7. It is considered that the lights proposed should be arranged in the
following order of importance : —
(I.) Shatt al Arab Bar, light vessel and four buoys.
(2.; Musandam (Little Quoin).
(3.) Muscat.
(4.) Bushire.
(5.) Shaikh Shuaib.
(6.) Ras al Mutaf.
(7.) Tanb.
(8.) Kubbar Island (Koweit).
(9.) Ras al Arz (Koweit).
(10.) Bahrein.
(11.) Lingah.
(12.) Debai.
(13.) Bunder Abbas.
The first seven lights, being those most urgently required, are suggested
as a convenient first instalment of the general scheme.
The position assigned to Kubbar Island or its alternative in the above
list has been determined upon what appear to be the claims of the port from
the navigational point of view under existing conditions. Should there be
grounds for taking specific account of the probability of Koweit increasing
quickly in importance in connection with the building of the Baghdad
Railway, its relative position in the list would be materially advanced.
The port lights proposed for Lingah and Debai being inexpensive items
are recommended for early establishment in any case,
s. n. c