FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION OF TANKERS FOR THE USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67-00059A000400250006-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 21, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: October 1, 1948
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2000EQ,8{~c~lA-RDP67-00059A000400250006-4
CENT INTELLIGF~[dGE AGENGY
1 October 19?~
INTELLIGENCE ~'~t~C~t~A[Jb4 N0. 70
3TJII~GTz Foreign Ganstruction. of Tankers for the USSR
la A check of Lloyd's Register, tr:~e Shipbuilders Cou4aci3. of kmeri~
the ~aerican Bureau of Shipping, and the US Maritime Go~,mission, as well as
the files of the Transportations Group, reve?~ls 'no such construction of axr~r
c?nsequence wad.erway in any shipyard outside th? USSR? Furth?rmore, despite
negotiations with several European countries, the USSR has apPareaxtly been
unable to negotiate axe cc~.tracts of consequence, ~ Trade .agreements az~.~.~h
Denmark and this Netherlands provide far o ?i .; ~ of contracts coveritag
nine tankers totaling 43,0 toes. Hozwever, should such contracts be
negotiated, which is doubtful., fins]- delivery of the tankers Y+311. not take
place far several years.
2a The absence of tanker construction for Soviet account is of 3.a~
tercet, because the inability to mava sufficient oil by crater is doubtless
s matter of serious concern to the USSRe ass of 30 dun? 194, the ~~: '~
126900 gross tons ranked twelfth in world tan3ser fleetsa)
34 The reluctance of foreign countries to ur+dertake tanker construction
far the tTSSR is not surprising. Soviet contracts are frequently designed to
establish far reaching econom3.c figs v~ith the Soviet Union? The USSR is
usually unwilling to furnish steel and other materials needed for ship coas~
struationo The terms of payment' furthermore, often disregard the usual
arrange~-er-t far Part Payments at keel laying, launching' etc ? In the case of
Italys moreover, there is the fast ttyat the USSR will attempt to avoid payment
by claiming the vessels as reparations. These and other reascns r~.ke it most
unlikely' that the Soviet Union will acquire stay significant amount of tagzker
tonnag~- abroad
1,,, No report Ins been. received from Navy concerning the above subject.
Although it is be7,ieved that the Navy report quill not c2~nge the foregoing
conclusions, if atxy essential information to the contrary 3s devel~ed, it
will be made available upon receipt by CIS.
Approved For Release 200070~/23ETCIA-RDP67-00059A000400250006-4