File 50/1914 Pt 8 'Persian Gulf: lighting and buoying; provision of Shatt al-Arab lightship and mechanic' [‎80r] (155/168)

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It is recommended that immediately before the light vessel is established
a careful re-survey of the Bar should be carried out by a surveying ship, and
the channel marked by a series of lighted buoys laid in accordance with the
result of the new survey. This may also affect the position of the light
vessel. It is anticipated that four buoys will be required. The British India
Steam Navigation Company’s mail steamers have ceased use of the Admiralty
charts, and rely on a recent survey (1907) of the Bar made by one of their
officers, Mr. Burgess. Until a new and official survey has been made, it is
not considered practicable to put forward proposals for rearranging and
relaying the existing buoys.
It is quite possible that a new survey may disclose the fact that the
eastern channel is the better. This is indicated by the latest Admiralty
survey.
The channel buoyed as proposed will require periodical examination to
verify soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. , and it may be necessary to occasionally shift the buoys to
suit variations in the channel. It is suggested that one of the officers of the
vessel which will be required as a lighthouse tender should be a qualified
surveyor.
The Fao lights maintained by the Turkish Authorities are feeble and
unreliable, but navigation would be rendered practically independent of them
if a five-mile gas buoy were placed on the inner Bar.
The lighting of the Shatt-al-Arab is regarded as the most important item
in the whole lighting scheme for the Gulf.
It is pointed out that certain of these buoys will fall, as do the present
ones, within the territorial waters of Turkey or Persia. Hitherto this fact
has been ignored in practice, and it is believed that the Local Authorities
have never interested themselves or raised objections in connection with
the British India Steam Navigation Company’s arrangements for buoying
the Bar.
It does not appear to be the province of this Committee to do more than
draw attention to this aspect of the case.
Koweit.
The Admiralty Conference proposed a 20-mile light on Kubbar Island,
and a 10-mile light on Ras al Arz. There can be no doubt that from a
navigational point of view the approach to the port would thus be effectively
lighted, but it must be pointed out that the height of the tower required for
a 20-mile light on Kubbar would be approximately twice that necessary for a
15-mile light.
The height of the site on Kubbar Island is only 5 feet above high water.
In view of the heavy cost involved in the erection of a tower for a 20-mile
light, a light of only 15-mile range is recommended, in which case the range
of the light proposed for Ras al Arz should be increased to 12 miles, which
would involve little extra cost. Although the range of a 15-mile light will
not extend to the island and shoals south-east of Failaka Island, a ship bound
from the Shatt al Arab Bar to Koweit should have no difficulty in clearing
those dangers, as a run of about 20 miles after losing sight of the Bar light
will bring a 15-mile light on Kubbar within range. Even a 20-mile light on
Kubbar Island would not effectively guard the Madura shoal.
The suggestion with regard to Kubbar is only put forward provisionally
in view of the incomplete survey of this locality. It is recommended that the