PORT OF KEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005400500004-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 6, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005400500004-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United Notes within the mean-
ing of the 3aplonage Laws. Title 18. II.8.0.8.0$. 793
and 794, the tranamlWon or revelation of which In
any manner to an unauthorised Demon is pr?25X1
by law.
SECRET - U.S. 1+ICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY USSR (Karelo-Finnish SSR).
SUBJECT Port of Kern
DATE OP INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OP PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
6 Decem 2 954
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j
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DIPINITIVI.
THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVIRA)
1. Late in the evening of 17 June 1954, ship was about:12 or 15
nautical miles off shore north t o )1Q J. . At that point,four naval
vessels were observed following ship on a southwesterly course
towards Kola Inlet. The vessels were mzx6ned in pairs, with about one
nautical mile between the ships abreast of each other and the two following
1 r r11
e
ships in line about two. nautical miles to the rear. T11e V012041 A 11e
of the name type. The ships were about one anC one-half, times the length of
snonaea ^st`to nidships,'end the afterdeck was very low. There was a
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__w Pfiht e.V.d. ten- -------- -- - -
somewhat higher t the after one. A small signal mast was located abaft
the after stack. these vessels had many guns, but
he could give no er o s. one of the vessels had a number, but
informant did not make a note of it. The vessels engaged in no maneuvers
or practice so long as informant observed them; they passed aft of inform-
ant's ship at a great distance. The weather was hazy.
2. At 0700 hours on 16 June in ship was at the entrance to the 25X1
White Sea, he observed a large cer a anchor immediately to the east, in
the direction of Pralitea (666-13 , E 39-32). The vessel lay within the
archipelago. the tanker to be about 10,000 tons. The 25X1
ship was fully loaded, an re was no evidence that it was discharging
cargo. The tanker was an old steamship, and its masts were painted white.
Ship go' 4 is bearing from Cape Letniy Orlov (N 64-55, E 36?.27),
and took a root o,.urse for the buoys northwest of Solovetekiy Island
(N 65-0g, E 35-38). No buildings were seen on that island, which was covered
with trees. From the buoys the chip went towards Yuzhnyy Rombak Island
(N 65-08, E 35-02) and anchored cirectly south of Ryavo Luda Is The
small islands in the area were uninhabited, From the anchorage
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
OTE, Wa.IsMgt.- ddribuN.a iedkol.d by "X', FI.Id dI.rlbu*R by
7/
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005400500004-6
 Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005400500004-6
could sen some small tree-covered islands further south. Nowhere on them
could he observe any buildings. The ship lay at anchor from 20 -hot3ra
until 2330 hours, when the pilot came out in F_ tugboat. He took 25X1
ship between the two Rombak islands which had navigation lights, and pro-
ceeded towards Kem (N 64-57, E 34-36) through the passage which was marked
with small plain spar-buoys. The ship anchored in the channel between
Yakoatrov Island and the dock at 2400 hours. no buildings on 25X1
Yakostrov Island, which was covered completely by small trees.
ship was at anchor in the sound for three days because a German 25X1
vesse was engaged in taking aboard lumber Flt, the dock. ship was 25X1
then directed to the northernmost dock but had to go back into e cannel
when a Soviet lighter arrived to take on carrzn At, the dock. After an additional
wait of one and one-ha79 days, infor3Mnt I e ship moved to the southern section of the
dock where she German vessel had been.
5. Between the north and south ends of the dock there was a fence which extended
to the edge of the dock. Both sections of the dock were of the same type of
wood construction with a fender of vertical piles and horizontal round timbers.
The northern and of the dock was several feet higher than the southern and.
the northern end of the doe was set above the
water at high tide. At the southern and of the dock measured 21 feet
of water at low tide. he depth at a nor rn and of the
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6. The dock had no cranes. The only buildings on the dock were two portable
sheds. The old building which formerly housed the sawmill for railroad ties,
was ready to collapses there was no machinery in it, There were three towers,
one on the dock, ,:,no on the ground where the lumber was kept, and one t to
in a group of buildings outside the
sawmil3
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7. There were at least two railroad tracks on the northern section of the dock.
dock.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS 0LLY
the tracks were flush with the level of the
Be The curved pier where ocean-going vessels docked before World War II was still
in use, F_ I One day a 25X1
small passenger boat docked there, the ship to be about 25X1
9, The sawmill at Kern obtains its timber from the floating loam in the n,srt of
no narnor I .alatoly west of the south end of the dock 25X1
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10.
the Seamen's Club in Kern, but other members of the 25X1
crew who were there stated that some Soviet me,, had treated them to vodka.
It was possible to go 25X1
to the club any time during the evening, but a foreign seaman had to be back
aboard ship 2400 hours. Thera was a small restaurant, a dance floor, and
a cinema in the club,
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1. ,I the typo Of naval 25X1
V0600 10 encountered, env on of a No. 2 hatch suggests that they were
auxiliary ships.
SECR.KT - U. S, OF'F'ICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005400500004-6
 Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005400500004-6
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005400500004-6