'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎30r] (59/80)

57
[Part V — continued^
(B) PORTS
The Karun Navigation Company which operates barges on the Khorramshahr-Ahwaz route.
The barges use mud berths.
Messrs. Frank Strick & Co. and Messrs. Gray Mackenzie & Co. have offices in the town. There
is a branch of the Imperial Bank of Iran.
(10) Local Agriculture and Fishing
Dates are plentiful. Limited quantities of fresh foods, vegetables according to season, mutton,
fish and fowl are available locally. Wheat is under Government control.
(11) Fire Service
There are eight storage tanks of 50,000 gallons each, which are situated at the wharves, water
from which can be used for fire protection.
A central fire station has been set up by the Military Authorities and consists of the following
equipment.
2 by 500 G.P.M. fire trucks.
12 trailer pumps (500 G.P.M.).
20 by 34 gallon chemical fire extinguishers.
150 by 21 gallon chemical fire extinguishers.
(12) Areas for Dumps and Parks
Near the railway station.
LINGEH
(Lat. 26° 35' N., Long. 54° 55' E.)
(Admiralty Chart 2837A.)
(a) THE PORT
(1) General
Lingeh is the seat of the Deputy Governor of the Gulf ports. Other officials are the Collector of
Customs, the Chief of Police, the Port and Medical Officers and other minor officials.
The town and port occupy a narrow strip of foreshore. The surrounding country consists of a
sandy desert with scattered date groves. 5 miles inland hills rise to 1,000 ft.
There are two aerodromes, one is an old emergency landing ground situated 2 miles north-east
of the town and can be used only for very light aircraft, the other is the new aerodrome situated
3| miles west-south-west of the town which could be used by most medium sized aircraft.
There is no suitable anchorage for seaplanes except in calm weather.
There is a British Consular agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in the town.
Approaches
Close outside the anchorage there are depths of 7 and 8 fathoms in the gut and at about \\ miles
off shore the depths decrease again to 5 fathoms.
(2) Conspicuous Objects
In the forenoon the town usually shows up well from seaward. The Deputy Governor’s house on
the sea-front is conspicuous. At the south-western end of the town a conspicuous tall minaret, its
upper part of grey and green bricks with a dark green roof, shows up well against the light-coloured
land behind it.
There are also two wireless masts about 110 ft. in height situated about ^ mile inland near the
northern end of the town. Outside the town there are many birkehs, or circular domed water reservoirs.
(3) Tides, Tidal Streams and Currents
Off Lingeh, the tidal streams set south-westward and north-westward at a rate of from J to f knot.
Ordinary spring tides rise lb ft.
(4) Weather
In November, a moderate north-easterly wind, force 4, with a slight sea has been experienced.
It is believed that the Shamal blows from a westerly direction at Lingeh.
(5) Anchorages
Anchorage may be obtained in a depth of 5 fathoms, clay, and good holding ground, at about
£ mile offshore abreast the town. Small craft anchor about 3 cables farther in, in depths of about
4 fathoms. , , . . ,
The anchorage is sheltered, except from the Suhaili, which sends m a heavy sea, but this wind
is always of short duration. ._ » x „ rrr ,
An H.M. cruiser has obtained anchorage in position 140 1-42 miles from the east W/T mast with
good holding ground (clay). . .
Shias bay about 4\ miles to the south-westward of Lingeh also affords good anchorage in depths
of 5 to 7 fathoms. It is sheltered from the Shamal, and the Nashi does not raise a heavy sea as Qishm
island and the Flat affords a certain amount of protection.