PORT OF VENTSPILS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004900170002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 14, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004900170002-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR (Latvian SSR)
SUBJECT Port of Ventspils
PLACE ACQUIRED
REPORT
DATE DISTR.. DEC 9 1954
NO. OF PAGES 4
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL Of CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
STATE X ARMY NAVY AIR FBI AEC
(NOTE: Wos dapton distribvfion indicated by ")"i Field disfribWon by "#".)
Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004900170002-1
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
SECRET" USA OFFICIALS ONLY
SECRET ?- US.OFFICIALS ONIi'
 Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004900170002-1
SECRET-- US.OFFICIALS ONLY
4. The.civilian population of Ventspils made a goodimpression. They were
plainly but cleanly dressed and appeared well fed. The state-owned shops
offered all kinds of commodities. No military patrols were seen on the
streets in the daytime, but Crew members stated that they 'saw military
patrols after nightfall. The shipts cook, who lost.'his way, talked to
a policeman and managed to make it-clear to him that wished to be ac-
companied to the ship. The policemanaccompanied him to the gangway but
did not accept the cigarette he off'red.
5. Many soldiers, most of them youths about 20 years old, were seen on the
wore
streets. Only a few ratings or senior soldiers were among them. T)M
either pale red black-bordered shoulderboards or black red-bordered slderboards.
and appeared to be on leave. About as many nav
dboard cases
ca
,
r
personnel as soldiers were on the streeMany navy men were carrying skates
or skis on their way from or to places outside.the town.
6. Harbor. facilities included a propellerless steam-operated floating-crane with
"irm
001 and
a lifting capacity -of about 25 tons, one tugboat 'of about 5 14
one tugboat of about CM TM The latter also served as an icebreaker.
This new tugboat was L was equipped with
an automatic towing winch.
Legent to Sketch of Ventspils Harbor on Page.
1. Road bridge.
2. Concrete quay, about 250 'meters long- and: about 1_.-75 meters above water at mean
tide;, protected by vertical and horizontal wooden beams. Although the
pilot stated that the water at this spot was 20 feet deep, a ship which
t b
elow
drew 18.5 feet touched bottom when the water dropped one foo
mean water, and was not afloat again until four hours later.
3.
4. Five new Stalin-type dranes for handling bulk goods. These cranes had
a strong, sturdy substructure and along strutted, jib with .an outreach of
hi
Th
e s
p
25 meters'with full load, and & lifting ,capacity of five tons.
took on 2,675 tons-of 'coal with one of these cranes in 20 hours.
Stationary 40 -ton cranes.
6. Cold storage b use:
7. Two old gantry cranes with fixed zj.iba. mounted on tracks.
8.
merchant ship, which unloaded frozen meat into the
cold storage house.
9. Three groups of barracks installations serving 'as quarters for Soviet naval
units.
10. Prohibited. area surrounded by a wall three meters high.
11. Searchlight; mounted on a wooden scaffold about six meters high. The
searchlight swept the harbor at irregular intervals during the night.
12. Ferry.
13. Road from ferry to town. It'was impossible to leave the road near the
harbor, as byroads were blocked by barriers.
14. Sentry-manned wooden watchtowers.
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Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004900170002-1
 Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004900170002-1
SECRET - US OFFICIALS ONLY
15. Grain elevator in operation.
16. 'Berth of a Soviet steamer of about 2,000 DWT.
17. Berths for Soviet naval. -vessels.
18. Two jetty lights,, burning and showing. the correct characteristics.
19. Numerous new dwelling houses.
20. -Town of Ventspils.
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Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004900170002-1
 Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-00810A004900170002-1
SECRET - US OFFICIALS.ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP80-00810A004900170002-1