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' [‎304v] (613/891)

Bushire.
The erection of a 15-mile lighthouse on shore as proposed by the
Admiralty Conference was considered.
It is possible that the Persian Government may place obstacles in the
way of the establishment of a light on shore. This difficulty can be
avoided and the requirements of navigation better provided for by the
establishment of an 11-mile light vessel moored in the outer anchorage,
especially in hazy weather when, owing to the distance of the shore inside
the 5-fathom line, the efficiency of a lighthouse on shore, both as a night
and day mark, would be considerably reduced. A light vessel is therefore
recommended. _ . .
There is a beacon on Ras al Margh marking western limit of Lakia
Sands which is a useful mark for the inner anchorage. There are no
buoys. . t ^
The beacon and two buoys were established by the Belgian Customs
officials at Bushire about four years ago. The buoys have disappeared, and
the beacon is at present practically demolished.
A gas buoy to mark the position of the inner anchorage off Ras al Marg
is recommended, in which case the reconstruction of the beacon will be
unnecessary, and both anchorages will be accessible at night.
Shatt al Arab Bar.
A light vessel with an 11-mile range, to mark the approach to the Bar is
required.
An approximate position four miles south-east of the outer buoy, as
proposed by the Admiralty Conference, is concurred in.
The total number of buoys at present maintained by the British India
Steam Navigation Company is seven, one of which, the “ Lawrence,” is m
the old channel, now disused, and serves no useful purpose.
It is considered that, in addition to the light vessel, the lighting of the
Bar channel buoys is necessary. There is no great difficulty m navigating
the river between Basra and Fao at night, and it is frequently done. It is
not proposed to deal with the lighting or buoyage of the river above
Fao in this report, but it may be a matter for future consideration m the
event of development of trade at Mohammerah and Basra. The passage o
the Bar at night offers considerable risk and difficulty. Ships which arrive
at Fao or the outer buoy at night, and wish to avail themselves of a hig
night tide, attempt the crossing of the Bar at night, and stranding is not
infrequent. ,
British India mail steamers very often have to cross at night, bu
generally make arrangements for the buoys to be lit temporarily by a boat
sent out from Fao. , . , . ,
As for six months of the year the night tides are considerably higher than
the day tides, the safe passage of the Bar by night may be an important
matter for a large steamer, as a deeper draught is permissible t lan u ou
the case if choice is restricted to a day tide.
A night passage might also, in some cases, obviate the necessity for
completing with cargo outside the Bar, and would at all times of the year be
of great advantage to the mail steamers which have to keep time.
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