THE PORT OF ASTRAKHAN

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9
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RIPPUB
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S
Document Page Count: 
10
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 19, 2011
Sequence Number: 
350
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Publication Date: 
August 5, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9.pdf560.42 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 1. The port of Astrakhan ie located in the dalta of tho Volga Riv r on the left bank in the vicinity of the tom of Astrakhan. A large part of the port is located in the city limits and the re- maining roadstead and repair yard (dookyard of the Ministry of the Merchant Fleet) are seven km fret town, down along the river. The port consists of foi- parts separated from each other over a oon- siderable distance, 9-10 km. 2. The approaches to the port are rather difficult and are made by the artificial vaterweq, the Volgo-Kaapiyskiy Channel. The usual ap- proach by ships coming from the south is as follows: at a distance of approximately 158 sea miles from the port of Astrakhan, is the lightship "Astr'ekhanskiy Prlyesniy". It is a two-masted ship with a white stripe along the aide and a red ball at the main asst. Fol- lowing buoys, ships peooesd to the leading stage "Donbass ", a ttlo- masted, black, to-stack d ship with a -white superstructure, located about 113 sea miles Pram Astrakhan. From the "Donbass, ship proceed to the floating light "Volgo-Kaapdyskiy", a yellow situated in the entrace to the Vol kly Channel about ttfi ship , sea miles from the "Donbass ". Aftertthhis ships enter fializ the sea part of Mich is marked with buoys (acetylene lamp after dark) and the art of which is amr d y b: ccu, signal station: and ' 8 - r * In, b?e- _ Thn b h lsi a. Ships arming up to 3.5 motors of water can use this channel. COUNTRY USSR CLASSIFICATION BDCREI CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT DATE- DIST 1953 NO. OF PAGES 9 SUBJECT The Pert of Astrakhan PLACE ACQUIRED DATE ACQUIRED NO. OF ENCLS. 1 (LISTED BELOW) SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT NO. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 - 2 - The port of Astrakhan is a frozen port because in winter not only the Volga freezes in the vicinity of the port, but the northern part of the Caspian Sea freezes also, In the period between 25 November t:nd 10 December, the Volga freezes in the region between Astrakhan and the 'J.lage of 01ya, (the last inhabited point on the right bank of the river before it reaches the sea). The river is usually open in the period 25 March and 1 April. The maxi mm temperature of the water in July is 22-24 degrees centigrade. The freezing of the northern port of the Caspian Sea from the 14-foot roadstead to the coast between Saspiyskiy (I*gan') and the village of Ganyushkino starts in the period between 10 and 20 December. The opening of the ice in this region begins in the period 15-20 March. The -ximum temperature of the water in July is 25-27 degrees centigrade. The aaxina tbialmess of ice on the Volga from Astrakhan to the village of Olya is usually reached in the month of January and is 450-500 mm. In the period of January, February and also part of December and March the river is open to land vehicles. Beginning in the month of February, the ice begins to decrease in thickness, not only because of the increasing warmth of the sun's rays, but also because of the appearance on the surface of the water under the ice sheet of the so-called "winter-field". This winter-field consists of a layer of dark-green growth which is found on the surface of the water and is very similar to the slime which is found in stagnant water. When this winter-field appears, the ice begins to melt rapidly from underneath. By the appearance of this scum the fisherman can determine the time and character of the approaching spring. Traffic on the ice across the Volga ceases when the accumulation of ice on the surface begins to melt and the ice takes on a spongy gray appearance. As a rule the opening of the ice from Astrakhan (in the region of pier No 4) to the northern part of the sea (to the 14-ft roadstead) is accomplished artificially by means of ice-breaking ships. There are no special ice-breakers on the Caspian Sea but there are ships which, on account of their construction can be termed ice-breakers. Tkase ships are as follows: (a) Belong to "Reydtanker": SS Sadko . . . . . . . . .. .800 hp. } j3ogati r . ? . . e . . . . 1100 hp. ! Gvardyeyeta . . . . . . .500 hp. MS Partisan. . . . . . . . . .500 bp. (b). Belonging to Volgo-Raapiskiy Fishing Trust: SS OrdzhoAikidze . . . . . ..400 hp. 18 Silaoh . . . . . ? . . . . .6/0/0 hp. ) ''ogu~v ? . ? . . . . .600 hp. (c) Belonging to "Baspflota: Motorethipo of the n built at the ship huildii: g and ripe ad diar:d VMoo Sturm In s and Baku. heft of breakAM Jm up to 4W xW 4. The ice breaking week is usu y aegsnissd in the fb3loidtig m ' .ws in the second halt of March the Ssdhas heaab ins from the faata7 iasni nth Mhi,e versazy of the October Revolutim to Vserldme-6olys iy Island. This section is six km long and the ice is broken in the satire navigation cha . This allows ship traffic from the city to Tr sow, and also "river strestcaz" (pas- senger boats) traffic from pier No 11 dtnm along the river to the factories imeni Lenin, Artem Sergesv, 10th Annivetrsay of the October Rsvolution and Stalin. -?+~+ a+.e omQ breaks a trail up slang the river to-pier So k, the opening a path w -the piers of the sea and river parts. -Almost siwltsnsausly with the work of the Sadko, the moto?ahips Bogatir, Gvardyeyets, and Posen break a camel fans ZVaehiy rsaand (factory iaoni 10th Anrii Revolution) to the sea. Those ioo-hreakere rains a the yalga tom the sea and further to the 14-ft. l o date ad. A. a Pr*!*dmmrl-,, for the.. ships, the Volga-Cospdaa Channel Section of grates and BmyW,r the 'Agdteslh-r Co. puts out the So-called winter mrloeras flay ng the dtsah'a. r ship in the sI c? .?Lw~a the ` ' - ?- --v w.oan.Ra.asp -of TiOS ftbral Fishing 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Truct which will clear routes in places where the fishing boats will have to go and where the floating fish processing plants will be stationed. The work of the ice-breakers speeds up considerably the opening of navigation on the Volga from Astrakhan to the sea. 5. The water temperature in the river has a tendency to get from two to five degrees warmer as the river approaches the sea. The average speed of the river current in 2-2.5]o per hour. In a few very narrow places the current gets faster. The prevailing winds in Astrakhan are as follows: Winter- northeast, hard and cold; Sumser oorbheast and also often southwest winds or as they are called dry. locally sunmer na. These de winds are damp and soft and don't reach ' ~?? auy intensity. The maximum wind strength is from 8-11 points and is reached in the period March, April, May and the second half of September, October and November. Calm weather with wind strength at about one-two points exists in June and August. As a rule, storm force is attained by winds coming from the nortbasst, In Astrakhan about 75% of the days in the year are windy. Working and living conditions in Astrakhan are rather difficult. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the bad climatic conditions. Up until 1951 the city was infested with all forms of malaria and there was no ef- feotive method known to combat the disease. There was insufficient cultural activity in the town. Supplies and widely-used commodities were always short, especially in the last quarters of the months and in the months of March, April and often May. During these periods there were long lines of people waiting for everything even black bread P f l , . ay or aborers was quite low as it fell into the first tariff category (the lowest in the USSR). Communication between the town and the industrial section was very inadequate. The town and its working sections are spread out on both aides of the river for a distance of 25-30 he. In spite of this fact the transportation facil- ities are very bad. The "river streetcars" which are operated by the Astrak- han Region Directorate of the Volga Freight and Passenger River Steamship Company were in nary bad technical condition (they go out of order frequently and are long being repaired) and they are few in number. In the winter people usually have to walk for several kilometers to and from work on the ice on the Volga. If any of the organizations affected by this transporta- tion shortage organize their own transportation, it is not for use by the workers, but only for the administrative personnel. 6. The cargo turnover of the port of Adtrakban'inbludee the total amount of cargo leaving the port and the toal amount of cargo coming into the port. The cargo turnover quota for the year 1951 was 2.1 million tonal 1.0 million tons carried out to sea from the port and 1.1 million tons carried into the port from the sea. Actually, however, the cargo turnover was quite a bit higher due to the "working oo.f.'ioient" which was supposed to reach 1.95 to 2.00 in Astrakhan. This working coefficient arises on account of the following loading-unloading vari?snts which are characteristic of the port of Astrakhan: Railroad-truck-pier-ship;; Shi p pier' chip; Ship-pier-truck-railroad. In 1951 the workiny planned to reach 1.95-2.00 it reached something sore like 2 . go turnover plan for 1951 was as; follows: srR Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 r Total Total Railroad- Ship- Shi - ype Of Incoming Cargo Outgoing Car o in Truck- Fier- p Pier- ar o g Pier- Ship Truck... g Millions Millions Shi of Tons of Tons p Railroad otton 0.4 ftchines & Equipmett 0.4 001 Timber 0.6-o.s 0.5 orals 0.1 alt 0 2 0.4 . rain Provisions (Food) 0.2 increase in the Vdume of Freight Handling According to the Following variants: 1.0-1.2 Thuss the gross i olume of freight handled at Astrakhan in 1951 was 41-4.3 million tons. Again, however, one most keep in mind that the work in the port took place under the condition that the working coefficient not exceed 1.95-2.00. However, in the presence of the very difficult working variants "railroad-k-11.or-ship" and eship-pienvEruek-railroads and in the presence might well have Preached 2.4,r~tion in the port, the working coefficient 7. The work in the port of Astrakhan, es in other ports of the DSSR, is organised in accordance with the directorates of the Ministry of the Merchant lest. It includes the organization of loading-unloading work in the port, the establish- ment of a norm for the amount of time to be spent by ships in port and the or- ganization and paying of the stevedores and machine operators. 8. Astrakhan has connections mostly with Baku and Krasnovodek. Its connections with ) khachkala consist mostly of passenger trade. The sea part of Astrakhan has its own piers but also makes frequent use of the piers of the river part. Altogether the sea port has three freight piers, me passenger pier and a river roadstead which lies an the left bank of the Volga across from the factory imeni Stalin. Cargo pier No 5 and passenger pier No 17 are used jointly by the river port administration. 9. The seaport has two production districts. The first district includes: (*) Pier ffo 4 located along the river at the north limits of the city. This pier specialises in the breaking down of river log rafts and the farmctisn of sea- going rafts. These rafts are then towed by Diesel tugs to 8rasnovodak, Baku and Makhaehkala. Pier No 4 can be called the timber pier. There are no rail- road ocaneotions to this pier so an the cargo that is carried away is trans- ported mot ri ruck, In 1951 it of not the emergency to form more than one Howeve two rafts. In the case of s it was possible to farm e for more than two ships of 2000 process to stand atttthhe It Is r ob 4 is built in each a way that a ship awt be ~? Pier No 4 to the shore. (b) Pier No 5 is siat!+d in the region it of only with the ism close to the center of town. This pler In Daershinskiy street specializes in lw?dt tws all kinds cargo except timber, salt, and cotton. The Directorate of the seaport of astrakhan is eleo inrat~+rt in thin din __ to the pier and the in -L" mere are no railway trash only means of transport to and from the pier is by- m tor- track. It is possible to handle two or at the most three 2000wtan she this pier at the same time. This pier is built in such n hi at that a ship can can moor to it only with the way the sea log to sham. ~' half the Pars are located part. The other halt are located in the river port. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 25X1 (c j pnL 2 ugor pies No 17 ..a located near the center of tows, in the -3.i4itW of the directorate of the "Vol-g0-tanker" steamship company. This r-' r is used exclusively for the handling of passengers. There are no ra .road tracks to this pier and the only transport is by automobile vehicle. This pier is used Jointly by the sea and river port administrations. No more than two 2000-ton ships can be moored to this pier at the same time. Ships can be moored to this pier only with the log to shore. (d) Cargo pier No 17 is situated next to the passenger pier, but down stream. This pier specializes in the handling of salt and is .celled "the salt pier". There is no railway track to this pier so all transportation is by motor truck. Practically speaking, however, there is almost no use for the motor trans- port as all salt is brought by river boats and loaded directly to the ships or to the pier from which it is later loaded onto ships. Pier No 17 is directly under the administration of the seaport. It is so built that ships can be moored only with the log to shore. 10. The first production section of the port is the most important and handles up to 85% of all freight coming thru the port. The first section is about 70% mechanized, :ore work in the holds is badly mechanized, more correctly not mechanized at all. This circumstance greatly cuts the productive ' cap- acity of the port, and while in the part of Kr k the role W the machine operator has increased is recent years, in Astrakhan the stevedore is still the main figure. Apropos or this, the stevedores in Astrakhan are called "carriers or "balancers" in the local language, while in Baku or in Krasnovodsk they are called "pawls" or "hunchbacks". The first prod- uction section is composed of 20-22 brigades of longshoremen numbering about 300-350 men in all. The working norm. for stevedores is over-11alfilled 300% on the average, which means that according to the iece-von system, the stevedores earn from 900-1300 rubles a monthp saw sections >~ 30 crane -FT t?o!'F. , This sea]" section Their norm is oven lfilled by 250% usually, which means they get 1.300 rubles a month larch.. 11. The second product' -iecticn of the port specializes in the handling cotton exclusively, This section is located on the Volga in the vicinity of the ship repair yao-T imeni Stalin and is officially called the roadstead section. It is served by four stevedores fulfill their norm brigades mm~bea'~ about 50 men in all. The sevez gives a by 250-300% which in piece work-progregive crane o wage e ^f 1000'1'200' per month,,, This section also has 24 Aerators. Thy exceed their norm by 300% giving them a monthly salary of 1000-1200 rubles man. "work in the roadstead section is arranged in the following manner. a ship thriving from the sea with a cargo of cotton is unloaded either into a r:Lver boat or onto a floating tranaloading station of the Astrakhan seaport. In the majority of canes, however, the river ships and the sea ships are not Chore at the same time. Belles weighing 170250 kg have to be loaded onto the translcading stage or other harbour facilities. Upon the arrival of the riverboat., the cotton in loaded into them. The moving of the cotton into the area under the hatchway, and the piling of the bales that have been moved by the crane, is all dam by hand. 12. The cotter handling is badly organized and in often the reason for the por# s e no= not being fulfilled. The organization of safety measures in the working mettodb of thb stevedores is especially bac,:iy handled with the result that there is a high accident rate. There are often tragic disasters, with high loss of life. The firs px.tection organization In the port is also badly handled, In the fall of 1945, there was a fire in the cotton roadstead, and as a result about 23,000,000 rubles worth of cotton was destroyed. .13. Mechanization In the port van increased significantly in the last years of World War II, from 1941-1945. The seaport of Astrakhan is equipped with th.ae floating transloaders, two floating crtuie., and four shore cranes. These cranes are distributed, usually, in the following manner: 25X1 SWRET~ Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 ? Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 25X1 Pier #4 . . . . . . . . . floating, Diesel crane Ural, capacity 15 tons; ; Pier '5 . . . . . . . . . .two Diesel cranes Lorraine, capacity each 10 tons; two elect i r c cranes, capacity each 10 tons; Pier i/17. . ; . o oP ,ating transloader /33 ca acit 20 t p , y ons; Roadstead section . . . . .floating Diesel crane Frunze, capacity 15 Tons, floating transloader 41, capacity 20 tons, floating transloader #2, capacity 20 tans. 14. Transportation-wise, the part is badly equipped. There are only four conveyers, with 8 to 10-meter belts. There were several electric cars each of two-ton capacity. Host of the transporting Is done with hand trucks. There is also an emergency electric power station of 40 kw. The automotive section of the port consists of three or four motor trucks GAZ-At, and ZM_5, 15. The floating facilities of the seaport are inconsequental, and are as follows: (a) The paddle-wheel passenger steamer, Krasnoar~meyets, 800 hp. This steamer was used earlier for the passenger run to Gurev, but later, when the port of (hxrev was closed, this steamer was used _?n- afl,oating rest home for sailorsl The pa> wheel passenger steamer, Geliotrop, 600. bp, Up to 1945, this steamer was used for the passenger run to Gurev. SIr a 1946, it has been under repair. However, after six years of repair the work that had been done on it was very little, and the hopes that this ship wou'.d ever leave the repair yard and go into active duty again, were very small. (bb Two paddle-wheel steam tugboats of the Ural class of 40U hp each. The steam screw type tugboat, Kan= istka, 200 hp. Screw-type steam tugboat, Na valchte of 150 hp. Five Diesel tugs of the PB class, each of 150 hp, built by the Rlzhskiy ship repair and building yard in 1950.51. The auxi lia:y s;,;;,)oner, Veter, of 100-ton capacity and 100 hp. (c) Six dry cargo b Res of the 061, 063, 065, and 066 types, made of wood, with 1,500-ton capacity. (d) Seven wooden dry cargo barges of the 081, 082, and 083 types, each of 2;.500-;ton capacity., (et Two landing stage-. - 017 and Volga. 16. Up until 1946, the scLport was under the system of the Reydtanlcer steamship companyp as a dry cargo agency, and was officially called the Astrakhan Sea Dr ,r Cargo Agency of the Regrltanker Compagy. In 1946, the port was given to the Casnii Dry Ca-;;o Comps ,'. Kaspflot, and was called the Astrakhan Sea Agency of the Kaspflot Ccsgxu;; (Moragentetvo Kaspflot). In recent years, this sea agency actually became independent and was called the Astrakhan Seaport. The planning of the work in the port, the accounting and recording, is carried on directly in Glavyuzhflot, governing the Kaspflot CompszW. Captain of the lderehant Fleet Third :tank & y, N2Jc9W Ale, sandren ich is in charge of the port. Under him are the followings' Chief Engineer - Acting Chief (former worker in the transporta- tion section of Obkmma of the party) Acting Chief for Exploitation, Senior Lieutenant of the Merchant Fleet ACA2V, Semen Karpovich In the Office of the Chief of the Port are the following: Clerk-t-fpist, Legal Counsel, Technical and Engineering Advisor. SWMR Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 SBCRS- 17. In the organization of the part axe the _ a7laviag nectars a Exploitation Section: Chief (also Acting chief or the Pant) - 1 spato Dispatchers -4 Di Senior Engineer - 4 Engineers typist - 2 .- 1 C ercial-Cargo section: Chief Senior Eacn=Jst Econowiat Senio:Price Controller Price Controllers Coammioations Section: - 1 - 1 - 1 1 -2 Chief ;- 1 Senior Engineer - 1 Engineer - 1 Senior Radio Techmioiane R Senior Radio adio Technicians t - 3 3 ams Radio C tor a R - 3 Punchers - 3 -3 .Machine-Ship Soction: Chief senior awi ,s - 2 Engineers - 2 -2 Technicians -3 M[!nhntef ?t~im Section: Chief senior F41aem mne.i ~ -2 ?rNmportatim swum in the aatiea Swt3cri Chief Dispatcher -1 -1 Truck Drivers, Carters, and Woe 30 Planning Seotio:;: Chief -1 cenrft .Engineer -1 Beancaiit -1 -1 Labor and Wage Swoon: Chief -1 Senior peg new -1 T'sohAto3,e::e Bon-M~g~ ~ Chief:.. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 i" Personnel Section: Chief Bookkeeper Senior Bookkeepers - 3 Bookkeepers Accountants - 3 Cashier 7 -1 Sea Inspection Section: Chief Senior Inspector Representatives supply Section: Chief Goods Economists Agents Senior Warehanessm Warehousemen Bookkeeper -1 -i -2 Administrative Eoomomic Seatian: Chief - 1 Supply Direct9r. - 1 Executive - 1 Typists Janitors - 2 Curator v -1 Chauffeurs for Light Vehicle-1- 2 Operation Production of Iadividusl production aeotiame of the got. The, first production area has the following seetioae: Loading-unloading Section: Chief (Chief of the Area) Dispatchers Senior Stevedores Stevedores Ser+or Price Controllers Nor EControllers Norm Technieians Freight WarehouseeI "rehouse Chief SenioruWareMwmm s eighere Goode Clerics Mechanisation Ssetiamt S Engineer Umbealm 24eohani Senior *raw Operate m crew C=:" senior Medwalm senior Se uAiDWOione ectriclaw -1 -3 -3 -3 -3 -2 -1 -2 -3 -6 - 23 -15 -19 -9 -6. The second production area (rosieteeel Loading' Unlos ift Seot1c Chief also Area Chief) - 1 nH-.*I- the ` `aw.a Oet 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 25X1 Price Controllers -3 Tec'hniciaa-4 orm Setters -2 Senior Weigher -1 Weighers _3 Mechanization Section: Engineer - 1 Senior Mechanics - 3 Mechanics - 6 Senior Crane Operators - 12 Crane Ooerators - 12 Senior Motor Operator - 1 Motor Operators - 3 20. '.litarized guard and Fire Protection for the port is handled by the Eighth Section of the VOKhR. Political work is directed by the political section of the Reydtanker Com- pany, The port has a Port Party Committee, a Port Komsomol Committee, and a Port Trade Union Committee. Trade union work in the port is directed by the Coastal Committee of **men's Unions (Baskonmor). All questions concerning secret correspondence in the port are decided by the Secret-Code Section of the Reydtanker Company. The port does not have its own telephone station. It uses the seCvioes of the telephone station More of the Reydtanker Company and the telephone station Reka of the Volgotanker Company. The port does not publish its own newspaper. Its collective uses the cooyagi~a1 newspaper Morslooyreyd, which is published by the Reydtanker Cow. In general, it is. necessary to note that in many situations the Astrakhan Seaport's not dependent, on Reydtanker as for example, in questions concerning comminai living tars., in questions of motor transport, of ship repair and repair of transloadinc maehi*,,.,..._ .,s 1 e.,w +7.,~a material supply. questions concerning any e1- - in unanges--in Ministry z a port structure of concerning its strengthening have not ariser 1951 and are not arpected in the near f tutee. Merchant Fleet or in the government in 25X1 I - end ENCLOSURE (A)c. Plan of the Port of Astreldaan with Legend 25X1 25X1 25X1 E Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9 ENCLOSURE (A) PLAN OF THE PORT OF SMAKMN WITH LEGEND SECRET Ship ysR1~t~ICyr +bleltf PIp4`tr of.:; .a. '~96t'?i11*t pW Pier 1I .'5. (first arsr of the part 5th Stdphaya Street- Daer$Uinskty Street The park of Pier No 17 Pa eager Pier No 17 Fr fight Pier No 17 (first area) Ship repair factory ieami 10th Amiiversary of the Ootober revolution 25X1 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/21: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600040350-9