Page 302 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

64

BAHRAIN HARBOUR. KHOR KALIYA PORT. (NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
(Report by Mr. Donald Hill, Resident Engineer of Messrs. Coodcs and Partners, Consulting
Engineers to the Government).
PROGRESS OF WORKS DURING 1955.
The presence of shallow water coral reef around the northern shores of Bahrain has
necessitated the use of small craft, lighters and pontoons for transhipment of cargoes between
the Customs Quays and shipping at the deep water anchorages.
The Government of Bahrain, in an endeavour to eliminate shipping delays and the double
handling of cargoes, caused an investigation to be made into the possibilities for bringing deep
water vessels in to a quay.
Of the possibilities investigated, the most attractive was to use the natural, protected
harbour of the Khor Kaliya.
A short distance east from the Jufair shore, within the Khor Kaliya, there exists a deep
water basin, naturally formed by the action of the tidal currents. From this basin the currents
have established a natural channel along the south of the Khor, emerging by a shallow and
narrow gap through the bar of the reef into the deep water of the Sitra Anchorage.
A scheme was provisionally drawn up, whereby a masonry causeway fifty feet wide and
3,100 feet long, was to be built across the coral foreshore from Jufair, to a point below low
water mark.
From this a piled pier was to be constructed, reaching to the natural basin and terminating
in a quay having two berths of minimum natural water depth of 25 feet and two berths with
minimum water of 30 feet; partly natural at this depth and partly dredged.
The natural basin was to be enlarged to an area of 5,900,000 square feet, at a minimum
depth of 27 feet.
The natural channel, 3 £ miles long, was to be enlarged and deepened by dredging to a width
of 350 feet and minimum depth of water of 27 feet. At minimum high tides a further five feet
of depth is added for a period of two hours.
The use of the line of channel already determined by the currents of the Khor, would
ensure natural maintenance of the proposed channel and basin, with occasional inexpensive
assistance by light equipment operated by the Port Establishment.
It was, however, problematical as to whether enlargement of the channel through the
hard material of the Bar at the reef, would be possible within the limits of available finance.
The Government, however, decided to test the possibility, and in late 1954 were enabled by
the presence in the Persian Gulf of equipment of the Overseas Dredging Company Ltd., to
enter into a contract with that Company at very favourable prices. The contract conditions,
laid down that the whole of the works would be undertaken only if the short section through
the Bar could be dredged to the designed dimensions, at a price below a stated ceiling level.
Dredging at the Bar started on the 26th February, 1955, and was completed, in 22 weeks
by the 26th of July, 1955. The contractor was accordingly instructed to proceed with the
remainder of the dredging of the channel and basin.
At the 31st of December, 1955, the approach channel was dredged to within 100 feet of
the bellmouth to the basin.
In the meanwhile, the Public Works Department had started the work of constructing
the Causeway and by the 31st of December had completed 2,300 feet of the walls and con-
solidated stone fill to road level, together with 23 culverts designed to reduce water pressures
and minimise interference with the natural currents of the Khor.
Expenditure during 1955
50 per cent of Dredging Works Rs. 45,28,000 or £342,000
75 per cent of the Causeway Rs. 3,65,000 or £27,500
Total Rs. 48,93,000 or £369,500
The success of the dredging programme, together with substantial financial saving on the
contract, have enabled the Government to order the dredging of a further four berths to the
minimum depth of 30 feet, in anticipation of an increase in length of the quay, also to increase
the area of the dredged basin to a total of 7,400,000 square feet at minimum depth of 27 feet.
The 1956 Programme anticipates:—
Completion of all dredging .. .. .. .. October, 1956
Completion of the causeway to road level .. .. August, 1956
Commencement of the piled pier under a contract for 4 ship berths October, 1956 (circa)