File 252/1910 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Lighting and Buoying; the B.I.S.N. Co's buoyage system taken over by Govt of India' [‎87r] (178/891)

From Viceroy, \0tli August 1910.
Foreign Secret. Please see your telegram o£ the 6th of August last
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. buoys. Cox telegraphed 5th August as loll °^.i“
reports four buoys now missing from Sliat-el-Aiab b ai - P ,,
is urgent. Please move Calcutta Office, British India Steamship Company
Pending completion of arrangements lor transfer of buoys, will you please
arrange S with British India Compa ny for replacement of the missing ones.
From Viceroy, 10th November 1910.
Foreign Secret. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. buoys. Please see your telegram of
bth August. It is not necessary to consult Trinity House. Please refer to
Mackay’s letter to Foreign Office, dated 22nd September. Director, Royal
Indian Marine, now proposes, and Cox agrees, that the Government instead of
the British Indian Steam Navigation Company should replace five out of the
six missing buoys, and that Lawrence buoy need not be replaced. I agree,
provided cost of 1,000Z. is proportionally reduced. In any case, if the
British Indian Company replace missing buoys, cost of 1,000Z. should be
reduced as Lawrence buoy will not be replaced.
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, Foreign Department,
2Sth November 1910.
Foreign Secret. Your telegram of 10th November. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. buoys.
British India Company report one at Bahrein recently replaced, and Com
mander “Negra” instructed to report regarding others, which may be
submerged. Please explain reasons for replacement by Government if any
should be finally missing, with estimates.
From Viceroy, tith December 1910.
Foreign Secret. Your telegram of 28th November. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. buoys.
Director, Royal Indian Marine, reports that present buoys are of various sizes,
similarly anchors and chains, the former being also too heavy to be weighed
or laid by Royal Indian Marine Steamer “ Lawrence’s ” cutter in shallow
water, the water being too shallow for the “Lawrence” to weigh and lay
them herself. (It has been proposed that the “Lawrence” should undertake
care and maintenance of buoys and beacon. Please see letter to Director,
Rfljjal Indian Marine, forwarded with Secretary’s letter No. 34 M, dated 1st
September.)
To obviate difficulty Director proposes replacing missing buoys now and
other buoys as occasion arises by buoys of uniform shape and size which
could be made sufficiently distinctive by being painted differently. He con
siders that future replacements of any missing buoys could thus also be done
far more economically as it will only be necessary to maintain reserve of two
spare buoys of uniform size instead of spare buy of each of the different
shapes and sizes of present buoys. He estimates buoy of proposed pattern
complete with moorings to cost Rs. G40. Present buoys and their com
ponents as replaced would be utilised as far as possible in dockyard or sold
if necessary and the proceeds credited. The reason for proposing that
“ Lawrence’s ” buoy should not be replaced, vide my telegram of 9th ultimo,
is that channel has shifted.