PORTO AMBOIM, PORT INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500450178-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2001
• Sequence Number: 178
• Publication Date: April 8, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2003/10/01 : CIA-RDP80-008
09A00
U.S. Officials Only
CONF IDE'NT:.AL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Angola
SUBJECT Porto Amboim, Port Ini orma ;;ion
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DATE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
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SOURCE Officer of a US merchant ship. H
CThe Office of Naval Intelligence furnished the following information to CIA
for IOC dissemination in accordance with paragraph 3c of NSCID P. This
information Was obtained by D10-3ND and was forwarded as ONI report 17-54J
1. Gelleral: Porto Amboim (Lab 100 43' 51" S, Long 130 44' 59" 1E)I is a slight
indentation in the coast of Angola on the West African coast. It is an oven
roadstead with no' berthing facilities for ocean-going ships. Coffee for
export, the main truffle in the port, is worked by lighters. The town of
Amboim is small with about 30 houses and a few stores.
2. Hydro ah': The' water off Porto Amboim is deep. It drops off suddenly
reaching a depth of 10 fathoms within 500 feet of the beach. The port can be
approached from any direction from northwest through southwest. The outrtanling
landmark is a high bluff resembling a sugar-loaf on which a light is located.
A recommended approach is to place the high bluff on a true bearing of 0900
and follow that heading. A small finger pier marked by red and green lights is
situated near t^r.' base of the bluff.
3. Lighterage: All cargo is worked by lighters, of which there are about six to
eight with approximate capacities of 60 tone. As there are no'ltowing craft in
the port, the lighters must either be shifted by hand line or %?ed by ship's
own craft. The source prefers the latter alternative and uses a motor lifeboat.
When using the hand-line method, a ship should moor close to a~lbuoy located
100 feet from the finger pier. A line runs from this buoy to the pier r;nd ty
means of this lighters can be shuttled between ship and pier u,ing lines handled
by native labor.
4. Pier: Built about tday 1953, the finger pier is 75 feet long by about ?5 feet
wide. It is courtructed of steel. pilings with wooden decking and support:: .,
small crane and a', narrow gauge railway. The depth of water at its oeawnrd end.
is about 30 feet,1 and although it is believed possible to brie a ship to the
pier, it is dangerous and i.npructical because lighterage would still be required
to work the ship's cargo. The pier is used to service lightersi.
5. Crane: The crane' is an uld steam-powered, railway lift of the derrick type and
re-capable of handling up to five tons. It id moved by native ,labor.
ONI DECLASSIFICATION/RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS ON FILE
This report is for the use within the USA of the Intelligence components of the Departments or
Agencies Indicated above, It Is not to be transmittea overseas without the concurrence of the
origins r I~?I A A (3~ F14S/P1f11:h`~4~~RPS ~d r6648,61 f
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 Approved For Release 2003/10/0
1 : CIA-RDP80-00809A00050045q 178-3
CONFIDENTIAL/Us CFFICIALS ONLY
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6. Railwa : Two narrow gauge tracks running the length of the pier join into a
single track leading the half-mile to the coffee warehouse_. The rolling
stock consists of several flat cars 101 by 4' and one small. diesel engine.
7. Warehouses: Coffee for export is stored in three warehouses. These ^re of
cement construction with clay tile roofing and are one story high, about 200
feet loses by 75 feet wider
8. Labor: Natives provide unskilled labor, while such skilled tasks as operating
the crane and the railway are performed by Portugese labor. ships provide
their own stevedore manpower as a rule."
9. Communications: PortolAmboim is in telephone contact with Luanda and ha.s
telegraph lines to both Luanda and Lobito.
10. Clearance Facilities: The primary avc,ue of communication with the outside
world is the sea. No railroad is reporlted, and the only road is a noor road
to Luanda which is not recommended for vehicles much larger than ,jeeps.
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Approved For Release 2003/10/0
1 : CIA-RDP80-00809A00050045i
178-3
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