MERCHANT AND MILITARY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PORT OF BURGAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002700460003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 19, 2009
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: October 28, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700460003-9
LLD
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains Information affecting the No-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 703 and 704, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL -U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY
Bulgaria
Merchant and Military Information
Concerning the Port of Burgas
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
2.
4.
Port Equipment
28 October 1953
4
A lookout station equipped with a semaphores but
apparently lacking a radio antenna, is located in t13 vicinity of the tip of the
eastern mole.
The port entrance is closed during the night by a net obstruction supported by
spherical buoys. No "gate boats" were seen. The net is opened at dawn about
5:00, and closed at sunset, ter means of a float.
As indicated in the sketch on page 2, the west quay has a large 1-story masonry
shed of old construction, with smw rail on both. sides. On the quay there
are two gantry cranes of 15 ton capacity, running on 25X1
tracks and. equipped with verts ea in. an unjointed slowing arm extensible to
about 10 meters.
5. As indicated in the sketch on page 2, the north quay (still on the east side of
the port) has three buildings. The eastern one, a new construction, is three
stories high; the middle one, of old construction, is one story high; and the
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
PS ARMY X
x AIR
AEC
I
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700460003-9
(Not.: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution by
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-00810A002700460003-9
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
western one serves as Customs headquarters. The quay is equipped with a spur
rail line, and has three beak-type tripod cranes running on tracks, about three
tons capacity each. In the vicinity of the west corner of this ua another
crane of the same type and capacity is under construction. motor 25X1
partsF_~ hoisted from a floating pontoon with .a. fixed g ry crane. 25X1
6. The remaining quay, beyond the corner mentioned above, is still damaged from
World War II, and no signs of restoration work were noted.
7. A 3-story barracks in which Naval personnel are quartered is located in the
western part of the port. On the quay in front of this building, moored straight
in, were the ships which entered the port on the evening of 16 July 1953.
S. The following sketch shows installations l at the port of Burgas :25X1
3-story
uilding
ne~rl~ :l'
construettd-..
(1) On 21 July 19530 replaced by the ENRICO.
2 On 21 July 1953, replaced by an Israeli vessel.
(3 Pour'1ripod cranes.
(b Two gantry cranes (Clyde).
(5 Semi-destroyed quay.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-00810A002700460003-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700460003-9
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
-3-
Military Information
9.
Anastas and were not later seen returning to port.
10. On 16 July 1953 about 6:00 p.m., the following units of the military Navy were
noted probably coming from the south (the shi
d 25X1
s
t
p
en
ere
the port and were not observed leaving):
a. Three German-type landing craft, with unloading doors in the prow, having on
board landing troops with complete battle gear; the troops who could be seen
wore helmets and were armed;
b. Two landing craft carrying spherical mines (with spikes) on:the::stern of the
deck;: iron guide rails for rolling the mines were arranged on either side;
the ships were armed with two 20 mm, guns, one toward the prow and one toward
the stern of the bridge; no torpedo tubes were seen; troops were inside the
hold.,
e. Escorting the three landing craft were four light units of the subchaser
type, which had on board cy3.inder-shaped depth carges which slide on special
iron guides; they were armed with machine guns judged to be 25X1
eight nnn., one toward the prow and one toward the stern of the bridge; the
length of the boats was estimated at about 20 meters;
d. Six or seven motorboats of the type used in coastal patrol, but a little
smaller than the subehasers; these were armed with two small-caliber machine
guns, set toward the Stern; and
- ---ram- -^ ~~~, ry++.v.i a E+trva~ ou vu Lie v.L uerman &ype, witn two launch-
ing tubes cut into the superstructure, one on each side,st the height of the
command b
id
r
caliber ge, open at one end; it is-armed with a machine
25X1
25X1
12. On 17 or 18 July 1953, at 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., three trimotor bombers flew over the
port from the south toward the north. On 28 July 1953, a Jet fighter plane flew
over the port on the same route.
U. In entering the gulf, the above-mentioned ships were proceeding in a straight
line, and they continued this formation while entering the port.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700460003-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700460003-9
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
-4-
Merchant Ships in the Port
13. Between 15 and 20 July 19539 two Soviet steamships, one of about 25X1
29000 tons and one of,about 38000 tons, at the east quay, text to the old shed.
They were-of old type and obviously had no radar. The first ship unloaded sleet
metal, girders, pipes, rods, etc. The sheet metal was of the type suitable for
ship construction; thecrods were for building construction, with the angular ones
having sides of three to five centimeters; and the pipes had a diameter of about
30-- Centimeters, with various lengths and dimensions. This ship also unloaded
metal cylindrical axles about two meters long, with diameters varying between 10
and 20 centimeters. The second ship loaded minerals.
16.
After the two Soviet vessels left, their
shi
lace was taken on
0 tons of miscellaneous goo
ship which loaded coal.
195
1
tons of grain, and
Miscellaneous
no information concerning port installations under con-
struction at Sozopol9 nor any modifications of the installations in the port of
Burgas.
17. Merchant traffic in the port of Burgas is principally concerned with the loading
of minerals coal, and grain, and the discharge of metal materials (processed and
unprocessed), motors and spare parts, machinery, etc.
18. On the quay there were large crates containing. machinery of Polish on
20. The railroad cars at the port are about 2.2 meters wide., of various lengths, and
have a capacity of 1,5 or 20 tons. Some of the cars in use are new and of sheet
iron.
21.
.22. Bulgaria does. not'.appear..toabave? felt any repercussions from the Berlin riots, and
the police act more politely and with less harshness than in Rumania, where the
people, of a different race, inspire less confidence than those of countries
inhabited primarily by Slavs.
23. Bulgaria especially lacks medicines, especially sulfa- 25X1
midesp which are very much in demand.
SECRET/CONTROL.- U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/19: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002700460003-9