Iraqi ports catch global attention

War against Iraq has brought global attention to its ports, especially Umm Qasr, that would be used to transport humanitarian aid, a process which has already begun.

The two Iraqi waterways – Shatt Al Arab and Khor Abdullah – connect the Tigris and Euphratis rivers that criss-cross the Iraqi plains, with the Arabian Gulf. For centuries, the Shatt Al Arab has been the major route for trade and business activities.

Usually, heavy cargo vessels are asked to reduce some of their load before continuing to the other ports in Iraq.

Iraq has six ports overlooking this sea – three merchant ports which are Umm Qasr, Khor Al Zubayr and Basra, and three oil terminals which are Al-Faw, Khor Al Amaya and Mina Al Bakr

Al Faw: Al Faw is a very small harbour located south-east of Basra province. It is considered a key to Shatt Al Arab, about 90 kilometres from Basra. The Al-Faw peninsula controls the straits up to the port. Of the natural factors, only tides restrict entrance to the port.

Al Faw port is strategically important because of its geographical location and the oil terminals situated in it. For this reason it was targeted by Iran during the Iraq-Iran war and was captured in 1986. But Iraq regained the Al Faw peninsula in 1988.

While the depth of the channel is between 7.9 and 9.1 metres, the oil terminal is 9.4-10.7 metres deep. It accommodates large vessels, even those more than 500 feet long. However, it is said that recently it was only being used to receive fishing vessels because of the shipwrecks near Al Faw.

The port is equipped with medical facilities and the shelter afforded therein is in good condition. The means of communication with the port include telegraph, radio and radio-telephone. It is provided with wharves for loading and offloading vessels. Tugs are also available for assistance and cranes are fixed at the port.

Fuel and diesel are not supplied at this port but provisions and water are provided. Only limited repair can be done at Al Faw. Ships are controlled and pilotage (fees paid to a pilot for steering a ship along the difficult stretch) compulsory.

Basra Port: Basra, the ancient major port of the Gulf and once the main port of Iraq, is 85 miles upstream on the Tigris from the Gulf on the Shatt Al Arab, southern Iraq. This ancient port was modernised after World War 1.

It is strategically important for its location 560 kilometres from Baghdad, 121 kilometres from the Gulf and its closeness to the oil wells in south Iraq. Also, there are many oil refineries in Basra city.

During the Iraq-Iran war, Tehran tried to capture Basra but failed. The port was a major base for the Iraqi army during that war. For this reason many shipwrecks lie in the depths of Shatt Al Arab. The port was also heavily hit by the allied forces during the 1991 Gulf war.

Al Basra Port is medium in size. Its channel anchorage and cargo pier depth range between 7.9 and 9.1 metres. The port accommodates large vessels of more than 500 feet in length.
It is provided with all means of communication, namely, telephone, telegraph, radio, radio-telephone, air and rail. There are wharves and anchors for loading and offloading goods. The port has a medium dry dock and medium railway.

Al Basra is also equipped with medical facilities, units for garbage disposal, a shelter in good condition, and a good holding ground. There are tugs for assistance. Also, fixed, mobile and floating cranes are available.

All types of supplies are allowed at the port. Moderate repair is permitted and longshore services are available at the port. A quarantine authorisation is required for ships to use the port and pilotage is compulsory.

Al Maqil: Al Maqil is one of the old ports in Basra. It lies at the far end of Shatt Al Arab and has 14 berths but because of the ships that sunk in Shatt Al Arab during the Iraq-Iran war, navigation to this port has been badly affected.

Umm Qasr: Umm Qasr is a small harbour located five miles from the Kuwaiti border. The port can be accessed through Khor Abdullah. Entrance to the port is mainly restricted by the tides.
Umm Qasr is strategically important as it is Iraq's main supply route by sea, for its location near the southern oil wells in the Faw peninsula and its water depth.

Its channel, anchorage and cargo pier's depth range from 9.4-10.7 metres. Hence, it accommodates large vessels more than 500 feet long. It is important to note that there are about 1,000 oil wells close to Basra and Umm Qasr.

Umm Qasr has good holding ground and excellent shelter. The old port has 13 berths and the modernised part has 10 berths. There is an additional modern berth for passengers.

Supplies of provisions, water, fuel and diesel are available. Only moderate repair is permitted. It is equipped with wharves and anchors for loading goods as well as fixed, mobile and floating cranes. The only means of communication with the port are via telephone and air. Longshore services are available. Pilotage is compulsory.

Mina Al Bakr: Mina Al Bakr is a very small port in the regional waters of Iraq opposite Iran and Kuwait. No natural factors restrict entry to the port. It has an oil terminal and is mainly used for transporting crude oil.

Its importance lies in the fact that it is the main port used for exporting oil. Before the current war, about one million barrels of oil were exported daily from this port. The channel and cargo pier at Mina Al Bakr are very deep, reaching 23.2 metres or more, whereas the depth of the oil terminal is in the range of 20.1-21.3 metres. Hence, the port can receive large vessels.

It has a fair shelter and wharves for loading/offloading goods. The only means of communication with this port are through radio and radio-telephone. Allowed supplies include water, fuel and diesel. Quarantine certificate is required and pilotage is compulsory.

Khawr Al Amaya: Khawr Al Amaya is a very small port located in Iraq's regional waters opposite Iran and Kuwait. It has an oil terminal and is mainly used for transporting crude oil.

It has a partially sheltered area open for anchoring vessels. The depth of its channel is 21.6-22.9 metres, cargo pier 15.5-16.8 metres, anchorage 12.5-13.7 metres and its oil terminal is 14-15.2 metres. It accommodates large vessels.

It has a shelter in fair condition and good holding ground. It has two berths and is equipped with wharves, anchors, medical facilities and units for garbage disposal. Supplies allowed at the port are only water and fuel. The only way to communicate with the port is through radio and radio-telephone. Quarantine authorisation and pilotage are required here.

Khor Al Zubayr: This port was established in the 1980s by the Japanese. It is strategically important to Iraq as it is used in the trade of petrochemicals. It has modern equipment and facilities.