'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎10r] (19/80)

[Part V — ■continued]
(B) PORTS
(C58272) ‘ c
THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
(B) PORTS
ABADAN (Lat. 30° 20' N„ Long. 48’ 16' E.)
(See Plans 2 and 2 (a) and Admiralty Chart 3844.)
(a) THE PORT
(1) General
Abadan is situated on the island of the same name, which is about 30 miles up the Shatt-al-Arab
river at the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It is on the north-eastern bank of the river about 8 miles south-
eastwards of Khorramshahr with Bawarda about one mile below it.
On this island is situated the oil refinery of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (A.I.O.C.). The oil
is brought by pipe lines to the refinery from the oil fields of Masjid-i-Sulaiman and Haftkel, about
70-80 miles to the north-north-east.
The original concession was obtained in 1901 on a site which was nothing more than a mud flat,
but which is now as modern in many respects as an English industrial town. It is the A.I.O.C.’s
export port and the greatest oil port of the East.
From the Rooka Channel at the mouth of the Shatt-al-Arab (for general description of approaches
see Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Pilot), where the pilot is embarked, the river winds through 30 miles of flat country
to Abadan, the banks are lined with extensive date gardens, and there is a continual traffic of trading
and fishing dhows.
The boundary between Persia and Iraq is the low water mark on the Persian or north-eastern
bank of the Shatt-al-Arab river, except from just below Abadan to above Khorramshahr, In this
section the boundary runs down the centre of the river.
There is an airport 1^ miles north-west of the town. Before the war (1939-45) this was a landing
ground normally used only by the A.I.O.C. It has now been considerably expanded and has three
all-weather runways, control tower, workshops and several hangars. It was used during the war
for assembly of “ Aid to Russia ” planes which were then flown to Tehran.
Flying boats could alight on the river. The river is 1,400 ft. wide opposite No. 7 jetty.
At Khosrowabad which is on the left bank of the river, 17 miles below Abadan, there is a new oil
delivery point with adjacent tank farms. This is connected by road with Abadan.
(2) Conspicuous objects
The large buildings and tall chimneys of the refinery are visible from seaward. The oil storage
tanks at Bawarda on the starboard hand are the sign of approaching Abadan.
(3) Tides, tidal streams and currents
There is a mean rise of tide of 6 ft. with a maximum rise of 10 ft.
The in-going tidal stream attains a rate of 1^ knots and the out-going stream 3 knots. Heavy
flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which is frequent during the late spring, may increase the
rate of the outgoing stream to 5 knots.
(4) Weather
The port of Abadan is little affected by weather. Occasional bad dust storms, which affect the
visibility, may slow up navigation in the river and affect the berthing arrangements.
Should spring flood-water or high wind make berthing difficult there are always tugs available.
(5) Anchorages
All ships may anchor at the seaward end of the Rooka channel, either to await the tide or embark
the pilot. The pilot service is controlled by the Basra Port Directorate, who maintain the dredged
channel at Rooka.
Other anchorages in the river below Abadan are :—
(i) Kasba Reach, where there is ample space for large vessels with 1,000 ft. swinging room.
(ii) Chellabi, emergency anchorage for two vessels.
(iii) Kabda, anchorage for two vessels in an emergency.
(iv) Bawarda—easily recognisable by the oil storage tanks—anchorage’ for four large vessels
with a maximum draught of 26 ft.
(6) Description of Harbour
The harbour of Abadan lies along the eastern bank of the Shatt-al-Arab. It extends from the
“ slow ” notice-board on the right bank of the river above Zayadiya (Zayadi Creek), to the “ slow ”
notice-boards on the right bank of the river above Seeba. There are 27 jetties (see Appendix “ A ”) all
of which are fitted with electric light and hydrants. They can be used at all times except in a very
strong wind ; the majority are purely oiling berths. There are two main unloading wharves, the