PORT INFORMATION: GDANSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A007700080001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 21, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

oEc i351
D1-4"
?*f .
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
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CONFIDENTIAL
C 35533
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
Port Information: Gdansk
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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THEMEANING OF TITLE III. SECTIONS 793
AND 794. OF THE U.S. CODE. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVS.
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THISIEPORT IS PROHIBITED.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
REPORT
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RESPONSIVE: TO
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DATE DISTR.11 Dec 1954
NO. OF PAGES CP
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO
REPORT NO.
LTHE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE FURBISHED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO CIA FOR
ILC DISSEMINATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 3 c OF NSCID #7 (DIO, 8ND No 213-
54) j
1. The following information is based on personal Observations of the source.
2. Alvhabetical Desivators In connection with information contained herein,
specific points of interest are noted on photostatic copies of HO Charts 11.876
and 11.928 by the following alphabetical designators:
A. Track of vessel approaching subject port
B. "Gdynia light" buoy
C. Anchorage at "Gdansk light" buoy
X. (circled) Approximate location of reported mine explosion
and damage to Danish vessel
D. Lighted buoy
B. Harbor clearance - wrecks removed
F. Berth
G. Storage tanks and pumping station
H. Three six-thousand grt Polish cargo vessels
I. live large Soviet colliers
J. Three coastal vessels (two Polish, one Soviet,
K. Rebuilt dock area
L. Factory building
M. Factory building
N. Wooden bridge
Dates of Call Source visited subject port aboard a motor tanker 27-28 Sep 54.
4. Car o Vessel called in ballast and loaded 2105 metric tons of crude benzol for
diiarge in the US.
NAVY review completed.
'DISTRIBUTION ?'STATE
ARMY
U.S. Officials Only
CONFIDENTIAL
NAVY
AIR
FBI
C
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 transmitted overseas without the concurrence of the
originating office through the Assistant Director of the Office of Collection and Dissemination, CIA.
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5. Weather Temperatures averaged 58.1?F during dates of call. Sky was clear to
cloudy; there was no rainfall. No unusual conditions of wind or sea were noted.
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6. Arrival Vessel departed 22 Sep 54. Vessel's track, designator
A, is shown from Pt Eel to anchorage outside subject port. Source stated that
25X1 vessels arriving and departing subject port must follow the track shown, since
mine fields and floating mines make navigation hazardous- except along the track
shown, where mines are swept. While approaching subject port, sourne noted and
verified characteristics of "Gdynia light" buoy, designatornB, and stated that
anchorage buoy at designator C is a lighted buoy, as is the approach channel
buoy, designator D. Chart used by source was Ostsee Deutsche KUste Danziger
Bucht Westlicher Tell (MAsstab 1:75,000) No 29, published by Deutschen Hydro-
graphisoenItstitut, Hamburg; chart was last corrected Berichtigt Bis N F s
1953 Ausgabe, Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut, Hamburg, and source stated
that no discrepancies were noted. Vessel anchored 271200A Sep 54 at designator
C.
T. Pilot e Pilot came aboard 271300A Sep 54 from a conventional pilot boat flying
the pilot flag. Pilot was not accompanied aboard vessel. Vessel then proceeded
to berth at benzol loading wharf, designator 7, by way of regular channellroutes.
Main channel averaged 40' water depth; pilot stated water depth at berth to be
37.-. Pilot was a male, approximately 50 years of age, and appeared competent.
Bourne believes that benzol-carrying tankers are permitted to enter or leave
subject port only during daylight hours, and that pilotage is compulsory.
8. Berth Vessel berthed 271330A Sep 54 at benzol loading wharf, designator 1'.
Diagram of wharf arrangement and tank storage area, designator G2 was furnished
by source.
9. Boarding -Inspection Boarding party of one officer and 15 men, all armed with
pistols, came aboard 271509A Sep 54. Crew members were mustered in their
quarters andboarding party proceeded to make ,a thorough search of vessel.
Camnras and cigarettes were only items sealed-. Boarding party departed. 271600L
Senn54.
10 Cargo Operations Vessel pumped ballast en route to berth and completed.dis-
charging ballast shortly after berthing. A male tank inspection team came
aboard-shortly after boarding inspection party departed and cleared vessel to
receive cargo. Vessel commenced loading crude .benzol 2720Q0A,Sep 54 and com-
pleted loading operation 280600A Sep 54. with 2105 metric tons aboard. Refer-
ence to details of wharf, pipelines and tank storage area is contained in
diagram of wharf referred to in paragraph 8.
11. Surveillance Two sentries armed with machine_ guns maintained a 24-hour
surveillance on vessel; 'one sentry was stationed at gangway and did not change
position in excess of a six-foot radius, the other sentry roved vessel's length
along the wharf. :Only veseeIss master was permitted ashore to inspect storage
tanks and visit municipal area for business purposes, if desired. Crew members
were told that they could not be permitted ashore because they were West
Germans; that crew members of 'other nationalities, with a few exceptions, are
permitted ashore. The following measures were in effect to prevent and
apprehend stowaways: (a) all persons coming aboard vessel must first secure
two passes ashore; (b) when coming aboard vessel, one pass mist be given to
surveillance guard on duty at gangwaynof vessel; (c) persons attempting to
stowaway or persons not reclaiming pass from gangway guard the olject
of an intensive Search:. SoUrce.reported that such measures have virtually
eliminated stowaways aboard foreign merchant vessels calling ports in Soviet
zones of which source has knowledge,
l2, Naval Activity Source stated that one Soviet and three Polish naval vessels
were observed during dates of call at subject port. .10.ne large Soviet sea-
going tug, otherwise unidentified by source, was observed underway inbound
for subject port; tug arrived at anchorage, designator C, shortly after source's
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vessel and proceeded. aload of source into subject port. Source Was .not afforded,
further opportunity to observe destination or activity of tug. Source observed
two Polish minesweepers conducting systematic patterned sweeping, operations in
? the area lying to south and east of vessel traok. line, desIznator.A.' ?Mine-
sweepers were tentatively identified by source as either US '"130.1" Class Motor
Minesveeperoa or 'Soviet T-301 Class Coastal Minesweepers; source fnrtherwIden-
tified these vessels as having either a single or dnal forward deck.49;a7-monnt,
e.stimeoed to be a 40 mm size mount, one or 111.ore light AA machine gunsiinseediately
aft' of the bridge, no after-deck gun mount, and (best recollection) .the nnmeosals
"33"' and respectively, painted on the bow of each vessel.
?
13. Other Militaa Activity Source reported the presenceof numerous guards patrol-
ling
all waterfront areas visible to source while entering and departing saject
port, Guards appeared to be Polishsoldiers in standard army uniforms armad
with rifles'.
Meroheat Shipping Presen,t Three Polish cargo vessels estimated at. six- thousand
g? rt each. were noted as shoWn by deaignator H; cargo operations of these -teasels
were. not ascertained. Approximately five' large Soviet coiliers- were ?len:reed
aS shown by designator 1,-these vessel e were presumably loading coal, aconr ling
to orce, who further stated that reports of Swedish merchant vessels indicate.
that *reCent installation of automatic conveyOr7type, loading machinery enables
callers in subject port to receive coal at the rate .of one thoasand-,tons,per
hbur. when ailfh...lent Coil is present to Permit loading at that rate. Tiiree
coastal vessels - two Polish, one Soviet r- were preaent? as shown by desifgAator
sT; toes* vessels were observed loading timber from timber wharves sh,perynon the
photoistatic o6pY of HO Chart 1928 Soiree was unable to give names of merchant
yeasela deiailed above.
1 . Rebuilt- Do;ek- Arta Source noted that dock, area indicated. by boundary mark.s, of
. , , .
clesignalnor;K. gave evidence of recent renovation and rebuilding, having..t..ew..
wooden 'buildings; 'wharves and. Pilfn.gs. 'this Was in contrast to the pon.yr con-
ditiOn-the same dock aria exhibited When rioted 'by source during pr.erions visits
to 'suble!ot port.
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16 act,nries Sorrne noted the location of two factory sites, ?gna s L K.
LThi't,e,, at designatOr, L was noted only as'a,large wocsdin b.,?1:14,ding -;!,,eta en
evident activity, factory site ,M..wai 'n'ot readily visible to sOuroe., bnt appeare1
to be a large Wooden building used for some small scale activity;
17. Woolen Brilge Source noted that a wooden bridge, -designator N, appears to have
been newly reSuflt; Bridge appears as 'a wooden beamed structure with a floor
level to water level clearance. of six to eight. feet. Bridge Js atatipary-type
- and probibits-the through navigation of subject portes western harbor channel
to all but exceedingly small craft:
18. Harbor Clearance -.Wrecks Source noted that -harbor area, designator E, has been
cleared of ieviral -small wrecks noted during previous calls that source has
made to' s'objeot port. Wrecks had constituted a menace to navigation in the
area designated.'
19. Re rtel Mine zplsion source stated that reports reaching vessel of call
indioated that a 'Danish merchant vessel struck a mine early in September 1954
at a iodation approximate*: locati4.14, de-signs.' tor C Circled). Althouel damage
to the Danish Videel was reported to be extensive, the 'vessel reached a Swedish
port under its own power'. Source knew of. no further detail's relative to the
incident reported and was uncertain as to the source of information reaching
vess:s:1- Of Call.
_
20. De tare vesgel departed berth 271600A Sep 5'4 and ;Proceeded under pilot to
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har .ths entrance of subject port where pilot departed vessel. Vessel followed
same route of departure as that used when entering subject port and laid course
,
for Kiel, 'Germany.
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ffomment by Navy officer preparing reportt Material contained in this report
agrees generally with information contained in previous DIO 817D reports having
the same subject. This report also provides further detailed confirmation of
benzol loading Wharflandrstorage tank area, refusal of port authorities to
Permit Vest German crew ashore, and confirmation of utilization of various dock
areas and facilities'. . Certain items Of information appearing in this report
have not been Previously reported; including navigational data relative to mine
fields and sweeping operations, harbor clearance and reconstruction, and a
reported incident concerning mine damage to a foreign merchant iresiel. Previous
reports reflect that subject port authorities vary in respect to restrictions
placed on hours of entry and departure of benzol-carrying tankers, objects
sealed during boarding inspection of foreign merchant vessels - notably cameras,
and in minor features of surveillance accorded foreign merchant vessels.g.
CY!: 7 ":',fl.,;,H",:f1 .".6.;,esnd ;
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t. n
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ENCLOSURE (A): Diagram of wharf arrangement and tank storage area, referred to
in paragraphs 8 and ]J3?
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ENCLOSURE (A)
Dolphins
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Diagram of Wharf Arrangement atd Tank Storage Area:
?
Wharf: 10' width
15-20' length
6-7' height
above water
Storage tanks (5000 ton)
Storage tanks (7-8000 ton)
s*
Storage tank
(2-3000 ton)
Two 200mm Pipelines
One for alcohol, one for benzol
Pump House
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