'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎19r] (37/80)

[Part V — continued]
(B) PORTS
(C58272)
(6) The new jetty. This is constructed of steel with wooden decking. It runs approximately
east by north and west by south and is approximately 1,680 ft. and 75 ft. wide. There is berthing
space for three ships of 500 ft. in length.
The depth of water in the berths at low water springs is as follows :—
Berth No. 1 .. .. .. .. 28 ft. 6 ins.
Berth No. 2 .. .. .. .. 26 ft.
Berth No. 3 . . .. .. . . 26 ft. 6 ins.
There is a lighter unloading area on the Khor Zangi, above the jetties.
Cranes
During the occupation of the port by the Allies cargo was lifted by means of travelling cranes of
various capacities and a floating crane was obtained from Basra to deal with heavy loads. At present
there are no cranes, unloading is done with ships’ derricks.
Rail Facilities. —The old jetty is connected at the eastern end to the reclaimed land of the port
area by a wooden causeway about 300 yards in length which carries a single railway track.
The new jetty carries three lines of railway which converge into one line when they join the
lines from the old jetty. The rails link with the railway station and the marshalling yard behind the
station.
All tracks are standard gauge.
Lighting. —Lighting is by electricity derived from a small power plant.
ITater.—Water is carried from the Jarrahi river at Gorgor, 30 miles up the railway line by a
5-in. and a 6-in. pipeline, extra supplies can be brought by barge from the A.I.O.C. at Bandar Mashur.
Water pipes have been laid on the jetties.
There is a water filtration and chlorinating plant.
The water in the Khor is salt.
(8) Accommodation
There is berthing accommodation at the wharves for five ships of 500 ft. length.
There are four anchorages off the wharf and practically unlimited anchorage in the Khor.
Any ship with a draught which can cross the Khor Musa bar can be accommodated.
(9) Harbour Craft
Local harbour craft consist of one tug and three lighters. One W.T. can be obtained from Basra.
(10) Landing of Men and Stores by Water Transport
Stores and troops could be landed at the jetties or, if these were unusable, at the lighterage area.
(11) Warehouses and Stacking Space
There are 10 closed-in railway sheds with a capacity of about 12,000 tons.
Stacking space is somewhat limited and the port has sometimes been congested.
(12) Coal, Oil and Water
Coal .—No stocks of coal are kept.
Oil .—Any fuel can be supplied by rail tank car to ships alongside but notice is required.
There is an oil loading terminus at Bandar Mashur, 7 miles east-north-east of Bandar Shapur.
The terminus was constructed so that, in the event of the Rooka channel being blocked, oil from Abadan
could be embarked.
There are two berths, each consisting of four buoys moored in a rectangle to which vessels are
made fast. Vessels up to 550 ft. in length can be accommodated.
The loading rates would be :—
Fuel or diesel oil .. .. .. 500 tons per hour.
Benzine . . .. .. . . 420 tons per hour.
The maximum capacities would be :—
Fuel or diesel oil .. .. .. 130,000 tons per month.
Benzine* .. . . .. . . 200,000 tons per month.
Aviation spirit would not be obtainable by reason of technical difficulties attendant on piping it
from Abadan.
Tanks are situated inland two miles over the flats. There are six delivery tanks each of 19,000 tons
capacity and two bunkering tanks each of 5,000 tons capacity. There is also a small power house and
pumping plant and a few Nissen huts.
The approach up the Khor to Mashur is narrow, but deep and clear and there is a depth of 45 ft.
at low water on the berths.
Fresh water can be supplied, by barge, which is suitable for drinking after chlorinating but would
require to be softened or evaporated for use in ships’ boilers.
This loading terminus is not now being used.