'Military Report on The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company's (South Iranian) Oilfield Area' [‎39v] (87/150)

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3. Unloading facilities .—There are numerous large mahailas
( dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. -shaped barges) and many small heliums (large canoes)
which are used for passengers and cargo. (For description of
these vessels see Appendix VIII.) Approximate numbers are 60
mahailas and 150 heliums.
In addition there are about 10 barges (unsound for cargo)
available, not counting the six already mentioned (in paragraph
1 above), and about 15 open launches and 4 or 5 ancient steam
boats and motor dhows, practically useless.
4. Facilities available at Mohammerah (Khorramshahr).
The town is situated on the mainland and extends from the
junction of the Karun and the Shatt-el-Arab up the banks of
the Karun for a distance of about 2 miles. It has a population
of about 10,000. The A. I. O. C. has a small settlement consist
ing of offices, a Rest House and 14 dwelling houses. The town
is composed of both mud and brick built houses.
At the mouth of the Karun on the right bank of the river
are the Iranian Customs House and Stores godowns. In this
connection a steel jetty for cargo ships is under construction
on the left bank of the Shatt-el-Arab about £ mile upstream of
the junction of the two rivers. At the mouth of the Karun on
the left bank is the Iranian Naval H. Q. and barracks.
There would appear to be certain facilities for good billeting
in the A. I. 0. C. buildings and in the town, though in the latter
case the question of sanitation would prove an obstacle.
With the exception of the A. 1. 0. C. buildings, the sanita
tion of the town is primitive.
(b) . Water, light, etc .—The water at Mohammerah is plentiful
and good in the Shatt-el-Arab, but purer and cooler in the Hafar
channel, a difference of 16 degrees in the summer having been
recorded. It should always be boiled before drinking. Water
from wells is not suitable for drinking, being salt and brackish.
There are no ship-building, engineering works or oil fuel
stocks.
(c) Iran Navy—The Iran flotilla in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
consists of three gunboats (armament two 4" guns, two 3" anti
aircraft guns and two machine guns on bridge) and four
patrol vessels (armament two 3" guns in bows and two
machine guns in stern).