'Reports on (1) the Conservancy of the Shatt-el-Arab river from the Port of Basra to the Persian Gulf and on (2) the Development of the Port of Basra. By Sir George Buchanan Kt., C.I.E' [‎9r] (21/62)

15
Report on the Development of the Port of Basra.
for the Mesopo -
of the Port of Basra a^d L coiuaicatt hvl 7 T deVelo P ment
report will describe in greater detail the suitahil > ^ b " 1 ' Water ' The , P resent
of Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. its trad? rf 0 T™ a j t ? le P r:lncl P al P ort
under the heads-Administration, Works and Equipment,'and
SUITABILITY OF B ASR A AS THE PRINCIPAL PORT OF MESOPOTAMIA
AND THE PERSIAN QULF.
(2) The existence or success of a port depends largely on its aeoaraphicfll
situation with reference to trade routes the
. ■ ,, . . . ,, ulue3 > tne pertection of its communications with
c^nl^So^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^epo*. and its own
"--r
Port Facilities. « tne Heads Trade, Commumcations, and
The chief ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. are
On the eastern side—•
(i) Bushire*
» -Bushire serves the surrounding coast South of tk mountains and
the towns and districts along the main caravan route to Shiraz.
In 1912-13, 201 steam vessels of 325,000 tons register entered the port and
the value of the imports and exports for the year 1913-14 was £826,000
and £602^000, respectively»
Communicationsi —Bushire is the terminus of the ancient caravan route
via Kazarin to Shiraz and Ispahan, and transport is effected almost
entirely by pack muleg, part of the route being very difficult and precipi
tous. Proposals have been made for improving the caravan route and
for a railway to Shiraz, distance about 170 miles, and thence to Ispahan.
The Trade Commission remark that they believe in the future of Bushire as
a collecting and distributing area up to Shiraz and for an extensive
littoral area, but doubt whether the connexion between Shiraz and
Ispahan will afford the best route for Central Persia in view of the
easier route via Ahwaz and the permanent disabilities of Bushire as
a harbour.
Port Facilities. —Vessels usually anchor 4 to 4J miles from the shore where
there is little shelter from storms. Vessels not exceeding 17 feet
draught can lie in the inner anchorage If miles from the shore, but this
anchorage is not popular and is seldom used. It is a matter for con
sideration whether the approach to the inner anchorage could be
deepened by dredging or whether the construction of a long breakwater
would be feasible, but the consensus of opinion appears to be that
harbour improvements would be very costly and only justifiable if
there is a prospect of a very large increase in trade.
C80(w)AD