'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎11r] (21/134)

17
I estimate thafit should be possible to erect one berth complete for sea-going .
vessels per month, and one floating pontoon landing stage per week after the arrival
of the materials, and should the work be entrusted to my department, 1 will at
once prepare complete indents for all the plant and material required.
(H) C
I estimate approximately that each complete berth for a sea-gomg steamer
will cost Rs. 50,000 : thus the 4 new berths provided for will come to lis. 2,00,00 .
The floating pontoon landing stages would probably not^ cost more than
Rs. 5,000 each, if the pipe line pontoon can be used, or Rs. lo,000 if iron barges
are procured from Rangoon.
Against this estimated cost may be placed, apart from the value of the wharves
for military purposes—
(a) The saving on demurrage to steamers and hire of country boats.
{h) The permanence of the work.
(Sd.) G. C. BUCHANAN, Colonel,
Director-General of Port Administration
and River Conservancy.
No. 1142-1 3-Q.
General Head qua rtees, I. E. F. " D,"
Basrah, the 29th Februanj 1916.
To Director-General of Port Administration and Eiver Conservancy.
Memorandum.
The attached correspondence is forwarded for information.
(Sd.) C. R. INGRAM, Majof,
D. A. Q. M. G., General Headquarters,
No. A.-426.
Basrah,
Dated the 11th February 1916.
To G. H. Q
Memorandum
The subiect of increasing the very limited wharfage available for the embarka
tion of troops and stores requires very early attention—and with reierence to
the concluding portion of Marine Transport Note !So. 4, forwarded to G. H. Q on
the 25th December 1915, 1 request that orders may be issued, it there is no objection
to those concerned, to extend and build the following wharves and jetties .
Commencing from Boosa pier. This pier requires extending south some 150
feet and north as far as the present floating pontoon tor boats, including t le spac c
occupied by it. A landing place for boats with 3 feet at low water being provided
between this ,and the supply wharf.
A light wharf to be erected along the whole frontage from the north and
of the supply wharf to the timber pier, with a number cf leads to the shore as at
the Boosa pier. The wharves are required by river craft and require to be suitably
fitted with bollards as necessary in order that vessels may make fast alongside
Depths alongside to be 4 feet at low water. The Post Office jetty to be extended
to 4 feet low water to admit of officers landing there instead of at the Army Com
mander's pier, which is not to be used by the public. " Additional wharfage for river
craft to extend from the Customs wharf to the remount wharf fitted as above
with a landing place for boats at one portion of it, preferably near \ icei 0} s « haif.
s687wad
/