File 50/1914 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Lighting & Buoying; General Arrangements' [‎6r] (16/396)

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The Light-vessel.
Viceroy’s telegram, 15th May 1912.
P. 1838/12.
Government once more with a view to the grant
of a concession—say, a lease for 99 years—which
would allow a lighthouse to be built and worked
by His Majesty’s Government.
If it were not for the expense, a good way out
of the difficulty would be the substitution of a
light-vessel for the proposed lighthouse. The cost
of the lighthouse, as stated above, is 8,000Z. initial,
and 400L annual recurring. The corresponding
figures for the cost of a light-vessel, according to
Trinity House estimates, are 9,500Z. initial, and
650L annual recurring. (The Indian authorities
have, however, stated that they could themselves
build a light-vessel for l,080h less, he., 8,420L, see
paragraph 5 below.)
5. On the recommendation of the Government
of India the light-vessel for the Shatt-al-Arab is
being constructed in Bombay Dockyard, where
light-vessels have been built for the Bay of Bengal.
According to latest information, it is anticipated
that a saving of 1,080L may be effected on the
sanctioned estimate (9,500k)
The iron mast, lantern, &c. are to be sent out
from home.
The Lighted Buoys.
Telegram of Secretary of State to
Viceroy, 3rd April 1912.
P. 1149/12.
* Vide draft Convention forming An
nex 2 to the Memorandum communicated
to the Turkish Ambassador 18th July
1912.
P. 2783/12.
6. Five lighted buoys have been sent out (in
addition to the lighted buoy provided for the outer
bar of the Shatt-al-Arab in 1911). The sixth,
intended for the inner bar of the Shatt-al-Arab, is
not for the present being supplied, in view of the
negotiations opened with the Turkish Government
for the establishment of a Shatt-al-Arab Navigation
Commission.*
The Unlit Buoys.
Telegram of Secretary of State to
Viceroy, 27th May 1912.
P. 1838/12.
The Lighthouse Tender.
Report of Committee, 29th April 1909.
para. 12.
Letter of Director of the Royal Indian
Marine, 31st August 1912.
P. 3707/12.
7. The unlit buoys are, like the light-vessel,
being constructed in Bombay Dockyard on the
recommendation of the Government of India.
8. A matter in which no progress has yet been
piade is that of the lighthouse tender.
The Committee that reported after local inquiry
in 1909 on the lighting and buoyage of the Persian
Gidf regarded it as imperative that a specially
constructed steamer should be provided to act as
a lighthouse tender, and Air. D. W. Hood, the
expert member of the Committee, wrote in his
Supplementary Report:—“I estimate her cost,
“ delivered in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , after construction
“ in England, at 30,000k The Indian Government
“ from their own experience will be able to estimate
“ what her annual maintenance would be in the
“ East, but it would probably amount to about
“ 5,000k per annum, inclusive of wages, repairs,
“ coal, stores, and all charges.” ^
These figures—initial expenditure 30,000k, and
annual recurring 5,000k—represent the maximum
estimate sanctioned by the Secretary of State in
Council and the Treasury, but the plans received
from India are for a larger vessel than that contem
plated, and one that would cost very much more to
maintain. The matter is still under consideration.