PORT.
Bangkok (bar)
Koh-si-chang (outside Bangkok
bar)
129
AVAILABLE DEPTH IN
APPROACH CHANNELS OR AT THE PORT AT L.W.O.S.T.
MAXIMUM DRAUGHT TO
WHICH VESSELS
MAY BE LOADED TO
ENTER OR LEAVE AT H.W.O.N.T.
feet.
4 to 6
feet.
11 to 15
Vessels can load to any draught.
Saigon
23
25
Haiphong
Hongay
Canton
153
24
12
20
74 (Tai Mei barrier)
14
10 (Tai Sheik
barrier)
Swatow
16
18
Amoy
Vessels can load to any draught.
Foochow
8 to 9
241
Shanghai
25
28
Taking into account the possibility of improvement of these ports with which coaster-borne merchandise is interchanged, I consider that any wharfage accommodation for the coaster-steamer should provide a depth of 30 feet of water alongside the quay walls at L.W.O.S.T. This will accommodate vessels drawing 28 feet of water.
CONSIDERATION OF THE DRAUGHT OF RIVER STEAMBOATS, JUNKS AND BARGES.
River Steamboats.
The maximum draught to which vessels, trading with riverine ports, may load at present is 14 feet and at that draught they can only proceed up or down the Canton delta over the barriers at H.W.O.N.T. A project for the improvement of the "Front Reach" at Canton to a depth of 15 feet below the lowest low water is now under consideration. These improvements, if successful, will provide better facilities for steamers at Canton but will not allow for any increase in the draught of vessels. Although a depth of 16 feet of water at L.W.O.S.T. alongside any pier or wharf would be sufficient to accommodate river steamboats; due to the type of construction recommended later in this report, it will be more economical to provide a depth of 20 feet. This depth is also considered ample for vessels engaged in the Macao trade. In regard to the trade between Hongkong and such place as Kwongchowan, a depth of 15 feet should be sufficient.
Junks and Barges.
As far as I have been able to ascertain, the maximum draughts, loaded, of Junks and Barges are 11'-0" and 7'-6" respectively. In this connection it may be of interest to note that the largest lighter belonging to Messrs. Alfred Holt & Co. has a capacity of 500 tons