'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎15v] (30/80)

(B) PORTS
[Part V — continued]
(7) Quayage, Cranage and Clearance from Quays
(a) The A.I.O.C. quay is about 700 ft. long and formed by a wooden platform on piles. Minimum
depth alongside 6| ft.
(b) Six river barges can be accommodated alongside and are moored to bollards.
(c) There is no difficulty in berthing alongside the quay.
(d) There are two 15-ton mechanical cranes fixed on the quay. A temporary derrick, with a
capacity of 50 tons (capable of being rigged to 70 tons) has been erected by the A.I.O.C. and put at
the disposal of the Persian Government for unloading rolling stock.
(e) There are no other cranes.
(/) On the quay there are double track rails about 560 yards in length, with a distance between
rail centres of 30 ft. There is one crossover and a short siding close to the quay. The entire yard is
capable of holding 90 wagons with an engine. This system is connected with the main Trans-Iranian
railway at Ahwaz station where marshalling is normally done.
(g) There are no obstructions to hinder unloading.
(h) There is no electric lighting in the unloading area.
(8) Accommodation
Six barges of approximately 150 tons each can be accommodated at the quays and three more at
the bollards lower downstream.
(9) Harbour Craft
The following craft, mostly owned by the A.I.O.C. ply regularly between Abadan and Ahwaz
1 tug, 250 h.p.
3 sternwheelers (steamers).
20 barges (open hatches), 100-170 tons.
5 barges (open hatches), 50-75 tons.
4 barges (closed hatches), 85-175 tons.
4 barges (for bulk oil), 110-120 tons.
2 barges (for bulk oil), 35-45 tons.
(10) Landing of Men, Stores and Vehicles by Water Transport
Men, stores and vehicles could all be landed easily at the A.I.O.C. and also at places where the
water is deep for barges to be brought alongside the river banks.
(11) Warehouses and Stacking Space
The Customs have warehouses with about 2,400 square yards of stacking space.
(12) Coal, Oil and Water
No stocks of coal or oil are kept. The A.I.O.C. have a small drinking water plant sufficient to
supply 50-100 persons daily.
(13) Docks, Slipways and Repair Facilities
Nil.
(14) Facilities for Clearing Port Area
A road from the quay leads to Ahwaz and thence to Andimeshk and Tehran.
The railway joins up with the Trans-Iranian railway system at Ahwaz main station, where there
is an extensive marshalling yard.
(15) Normal Functions of the Port
The principal traffic passing through the port in peacetime is equipment for the A.I.O.C., mostly
stores and engineering materials for the oil wells. There is also a considerable amount of oil traffic
proceeding north.
Ahwaz is also a distributing centre for agricultural products from the surrounding provinces.
(16) Estimated Daily Capacity
The only statistics available are for a period of 36 months from April, 1938 to March, 1941, when
the monthly average was 3,280 tons into the port and 2,200 tons out.
(b) THE TOWN
(1) General
The town of Ahwaz is built on both sides of the Karun river and connected by a rail and a road
bridge. The old part of the town is on the left bank and the majority of the more modern buildings
are situated on the right bank. 5
There is a British Consul General and Consul resident in the town.