PORTS OF ODESSA, NIKOLAYEV, AND NOVOROSSIISK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R006100080006-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 15, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: September 14, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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IuORM &O. 51. b 1
MAY 1949 CLASSIFICATION SCR T/CONT:~;.OL ~3 OFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL. INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY USSR (Black Sea)
SUBJECT Ports of Odessa, Nikolayev, and Novorossiisk
DATE DISTR. 14 September 1950
NO. OF PAGES 1
ACQUIRED
NO. OF ENCLS. 3
(LISTED BELOW)
DATE OF
SUPPLEMENT TO 50X1-HUB
REPORT NO.
=HE ONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
TATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
2. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
50X1-HUM
Soviet Black Sea port
STATE
1 ' 8 o!'i 1
CLASSIFICATION T .OL US OFFICIALS ONLY
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 50X1-HUM
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2. Naval vessels
the outside of 50X1-HUM
Odessa had been removed,, three mine-sweepers 50X1-HUM
were sweeping the area. ese were owing cables which led
to believe that they were sweeping for magnetic mines. They were followed 50X1-HUM
by a fourth vessel.
four submarines were observed leaving 50X1-HUM
the harbor every morning, returning the sam evening. After a careful study
of the "Swedish Naval Calendar" of 191.9, identified these as the 50X1-HUM
M 89 type.
3. Nikolaev, 7-14 April 1950
longer in use.
The old grain elevator is no 50X1-HUM
Between the two grain elevators was located the pilot station, and nearby
were the offices of the INFIOT agency, and EXPORTKLEB.
The main dock is that one in front of the old grain elevator. It is con-
structed of earth and concrete. Its average height above the water was seven
feet. Along this dock was one Russian "Liberty" ship unloading, in
addition to 2 or 3 smaller vessels. East of this dock, for a distance of a 50X1-HUM
few hundred yards, was an area where no docks have been constructed (6, 7 and
8, Attachment 1).
Classification CONTROL U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
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The height of this dock was approximately
7 feet. During the war this o must have suffered bomb damage as its
eastern section had collapsed. vessel, of the "Liberty" type, was
docked nearby. Further east was another section of the harbc.)r where no docks
have been constructed. Here were several piles of scrap iron which resembled
the remains of old derricks (9,,r.l9 Attachment 1).
1. Harbor Installations in Nikolaev
The main dock was equipped with five electric cranes on rails. Three of
these were of the swivelling type and had an estimated capacity of 4 tons.
The other two appeared to be of heavier construction, and were equipped with
coal buckets. There were a series of railroad tracks on the dock. N'ear the
new grain elevator was a set of tracks leading to the elevator, and behind this
appeared a second set of tracks; both of these, instead of being set into the
concrete of the dock, were simply laid on the dock.
The new grain elevator, which suffered only slight damage during the war,
was constructed in 1930. It drops grain straight into the holds where!:.trimming
is performed by hand.
The main dock ?^equipped with electric installations but had no facilities
for providing water.
A number of cranes were observed in that section of the docks shown as
~Pantent Slipper' (Attachment 1)?
No floating cranes or dry-docks were observed anywhere in the harbor,
5. Harbor Vessels
Numerous oil barges were observed in the harbor. Most of these were con-
structed of steel and must have displaced about 1500 tons. Eight of these were
tied up at a point one nautical mile from the shore. From time to time these
were shifted from one point to another. Oil barges were also tied up at the
oil dock and Kabotazhni breakwater. Two large tugs, of approximately 500 tons,
were used for most of the towing of the barges.
6. Naval Vessels
Two small naval vessels about 50 feet in length, possibly tugs, were observed
in the harbor. These were used to guard foreign vessels at anchor outside the
harbor,
CONTROL U. S. OFFICIA, Lc
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7. Security Control
Se autions r as strict and thorough as found in most Soviet
ports. 50X1-HUM
The dole harbor area was heavily patrolled and guarded.
8. River Bug
At the northern end of Icinburn Spit was observed the wrack of a vessel of
approximately 3000 tons. A light had been mounted on the wrack.
River Bug was 2l feet.
the maximum draft allowed for vessels in the
CONTROL U. S, OFFICIALS ONLY
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OUA1-HUM
OLJE KAI
PANTENT SLIPPER
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2. Nikola ev
This u=at rir1 procures by
The entire harbor area was destroyed: ` Central In ekli -nce Agency
The vessel loaded grain at the old silo. The pir was so old it was rotten
and unsafe. At the new grain silo, destroyed during the war, were installed
three new cranes, capacity unknown.
Maximum depth of the water in this port was 22 feet,
the administration of the harbor was poor; there
seemed to be no proper planning.
Novorossisk Harbor
An unknown number of wrecks were noted in the northeastern section of
the harbor (A, Attachment 2). The four most northerly docks were destroyed
CONTT'.0L
TT Q
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/15: CIA-RDP83-00415R006100080006-9
and not in use, They were not being repaired
dock No. 5 (see Attachment 2)~ was constructed
of concrete, and measured 700 meters. Depth of the water six feet from the
dock was 30 feet. A railroad extended along the length of this dock.
The grain elevator (B, Attachment 2) was located a short distance from
the dock. Grain was brought from the elevator to the d ockside on a conveyor,
Approximately 1000 tons of grair were loaded in 214 hours.
Dock No. 6 was being repaired. Divers were observed working in the area.
this dock would be constructed of concrete.
At No. 7 dock a Russian tanker was F_____]unloading. This appeared to
be a lengthy process
were observed a number of oil storage tanks. Their number and side is unknown.
(D, Attachment 2)
There was very little activity at the southernmost dock (A_ A+.+_~~hme.,+
')' 50X1-HUM
There were no signs of either shipbuilding or repair work. There was
little harbor traffic. Only one tug and a number of old barges were seen,
The barges appeared in poor condi time In contrast to Nikolaiev, the admin-
istration of the port appeared good,
5. Military Information
Constant tank maneuvers were observed in an area south of the town (E,
Attachment 1). Though the size and type of the tanks could not be made out,
it appeared as if they were being tested in mud and soft terrain.
a destroyer or corvette entered the harbor
only to turn and leave almost at once, This vessel had two turrets forward,
each with a single gun. The mast was placed directly aft of the bridge
structure. One stack was set at a considerable angle. An unknown number of
small. patrol craft were observed in the harbor, These were equipped with anti-
aircraft guns forward and depth charges positioned on the poop. They appeared
to be of heavy construction. The bridge structure on these craft was of the
open type, It was impossible to estimate their speed.
To the hest of the grain elevator
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 1'G SSCNger doc.A~
Sk4"davc/ O;f deck
eke clods
C VG~r. pier
2oc~ uadrr C a~rSfr-uc f~ ph
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A = Scnke a c~,rrc,~S
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2. The four northernmost docks (1, 2, 3 and 4, Attacnnent 1) were caes-
troyed. No repair work was under way
the arrival of a Russian vessel was given priority
the maximum loading capacity was
200 tons per hour.
Length of the grain dock was between 350-400 meters.
of the water alongside the dock was about 30 feet.
epth
3. There were no indications of repair work being carried out in any of
the dock areas.
There was sours activity in the shipyard in the northeast section of
the harbor. A sna.ll vessel was on the ways.
In the mountains to the northeast of the harbor, blasting work was
in progress. A number of railroad cars were observed emerging from two
tunnels. During the night lights were seen in this area. There appeared to
be some concrete construction here, though it was difficult 'to be certain of
the type of construction. Due north of this area (Y, Attachment 2) were two
small oil storage tanks.
.. Other vessels in the, harbor included one
approximately ?x,000 tons dw,.
Russian ship of some age,
and avessel of unknown tonnage that was loading grain,
two tugs in the harbor, one somewhat larger than the other.
5.
Two motor torpedo boats visited the harbor daily. They showed a
'this mat Ti)! prccure:i by
Central In ellig once Agency
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
CGS0 T-,
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speed of approximately 40 knots. A patrol boat followed ships in and out of
the harbor. This was described as a small open motor boat with a small gun
forward.
U. S. C "ice 13 Only
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 79( OROSSISK HARBOR
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" Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/15: CIA-RDP83-00415R006100080006-9