‘Report for the Army Council on Mesopotamia. By Sir John P Hewett, GCSI, KBE’ [‎26r] (56/119)

59. The deep sea wharves just described are capable of berthing seven large ships, while two others
can be berthed simultaneously at the detached wharves. Two small ocean ships can also be berthed
alongside the river craft wharves. Allowing for the time taken in berthing vessels and the relatively
inefficient labour supply that will be available in peace conditions, the Port Director calculates that the
present equipment is capable of dealing with 3,000 tons a day, or 1,100,000 tons a year. These figures
represent dead weight tonnage handled, and mean that 2-| million tons of shipping can be dealt with in
the year.
Appendix XXI. exhibits the improvement which has been effected in turning ships. Eleven store
ships of an average size of 2,022 tons, discharged in June, 1916, had been in port on the average 47 days,
during nearly 30 of which they had not been working. The average daily discharge was 117 tons per ship.
In 1918 the average number of store ships discharged in a month was 43, the average number of days in
port 5 • 35, and the average daily discharge 366 tons per ship. The average days in which the ships were not
working was 0-056. The average number of colliers discharging in June, 1916, was two : the average
number of days in port 71 • 5, of which no less than 47 were not working days. The average daily discharge
of coal was 111'8 tons per ship. The average number of colliers discharged in each month of 1918 was
between 13 and 14, the average days in port 6 • 9, the average days when they were not working 0 ■ 033, and
the average daily discharge of coal 333 • 9 tons per ship. There are apparently some who are inclined to look
with suspicion on the expenditure which has led to these remarkable results. It would be well for those who
criticize it to reflect on the amount of money wasted by the detention of ships in the early days of the
war which was greater even than in the first months to which Appendix XXI relates. Detention of
ships has been reduced to a minimum with an enormous saving of direct expenditure, and an indirect
saving of at least equal value.
60. The construction of the port is such that it can be adapted from its present use for military
needs to the purpose of trade. It is not in the least likely that its commercial development will be so
rapid as to render the facilities now provided inadequate for a long time, but, in any case, there is scope
for very considerable extension.
The deep sea wharves and also wharf number seven are served by the railway, each berth having
an independent siding. This railway lay-out will have to be modified to suit commercial convenience,
but the change presents no difficulty and can be effected at small cost. In war conditions consignments
of cargoes have been limited to a few departments, such as the Supply and Transport, Ordnance, Royal
Engineers Field Park, and the Inland Water Transport. It has been easy to sort out cargoes m the
ship’s hold, and to load them on separate trucks. In peace conditions this will be impossible, and transit
sheds must be built near the wharves where goods can be stored, sorted and removed by consignees at
their leisure. The convenient position for these will be about 50 feet back from the wharves. A very
large open space is available behind the railway tracks at the back of the ocean wharves, and, when
demobilisation is completed and the Ordnance and Supply and Transport departments have been reduced
in size, there will also be a large space available at the back of the river wharves. One chief requirement
of a modern port has thus been fully met. There is ample space available for the provision of storage
accommodation, which is a very pressing need in Basrah at present, and also for the construction of a
customs house and bonded warehouse.
Port Equipment.
61. The following electric gantry cranes are either installed at the deep
on their way out from England :—
sea wharves 1 to 6, or are
Electric cranes, 8 tons capacity
Electric cranes, 3 tons capacity
.. 2
.. 8
Electric cranes, 35 cwt. capacity
5
Total
.. 15
Plant for handling and stacking cargo has been ordered from England, and is believed to be on the
way out, viz. :—
6 electric capstans.
27 machines of various sorts for stacking and dealing with cargo.
900 feet portable belt conveyor.
5,000 feet portable gravity runways.
This plant will be available for handling and stacking cargo in an open space 320 feet wide, and
3,000 feet long, behind the railway tracks to the back of the ocean wharves.
The following steam cranes of various capacity are at present in use :—
Suitable for cargo from small ships .. .. • • • • • • .. 10
Suitable for cargo from small barges .. .. • • • • • • 6
Slow lift cranes suitable for depot • • • • ^