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Appendix No. 4. 1879, I reported on the existing state and future capabilities of the port of Famagusta, and herewith
annex extracts from that Report (Appendix A).
CYPRUS.
Comparison between
Alexandria and Famagusta.
2. From these extracts it will be seen that, in common with the nautical authorities whose Reports are contained in the Blue Book printed by the Admiralty the 18th February, 1876, with Mr. Ormiston, and, I believe, every practical seaman or harbour engineer who has visited Famagusta, I have long recognized its great natural advantages.
3. Although I differ from Mr. Ormiston on some matters of detail, I agree generally in many of the proposals he has made for the improvements of the port.
To illustrate my views, I have prepared the accompanying plans.*
4. Mr. Ormiston alludes to some points of comparison between Famagusta and Alexandria, with which latter port (having been connected with it during the ten years the new breakwater, mole, and quays were under construction) I am intimately acquainted. The following comparative statement gives the area of the two ports :--
ALEXANDRIA HARBOUR.
Outer harbour Inner harbour
Total.
::
::
4 fathoms and upwards.
Less than 4 fathoms.
Total.
A cres.
Acres.
Acres.
763
522
1,285
283
148
431
1,046
670
1,716
FAMAGUSTA HARBOUR.
Outer harbour Inner harbour
5 fathoms and upwards.
Acres.
151
Total
4 fathoms and upwards.
Less than 4 fathoms.
Total.
Acres.
238
Acres.
Acres.
201
439
79
79
151
238
280
518
Breakwater.
Mr. Ormiston's section.
The length of the breakwater at Alexandria is about 1 miles. The length of the breakwater required to inclose the area given above for Famagusta is 2,200, or 14 miles. The depth of water on the lines of breakwater (so important an element in the cost of construction) is greatly in favour of Famagusta.
5. I would call attention to the fact, that it is in the inner harbour of Alexandria (ie., the portion lying within the line of the inner mole) that the whole of the trade of the port is carried on, and it is here too that the Khedive's ships of war and steam yachts are moored. I have counted as many as forty steamers, generally of great size, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 tons burthen, lying in the inner harbour at one time, besides a large number of sailing-vessels. The total tonnage of the mercantile marine using the port of Alexandria is about 1 millions per annum.+
6. My object in thus comparing the areas of the harbours of Alexandria and Famagusta is to show that a large amount of accommodation may be provided at the latter port for ships of war and transport, as well as for trading-vessels, by carrying out works on a much smaller scale, both as regards size and cost, than has been hitherto proposed.
7. With regard to the line of the proposed breakwater, there is little room for divergence of opinion. I do not think the extension of the breakwater from B to C (as shown on Mr. Ormiston's plant) advisable, as it blocks up the principal entrance, having a minimum depth of 5 fathoms marked out with beacons by Commander Millard, and by which at present vessels enter the port.
8. The form of breakwater proposed by Mr. Ormiston is similar to that adopted at Alexandria. Both depend for strength on concrete blocks having a capacity of 10 cubic metres, and weighing about 20 tons each. The chief points of difference in the two sections are that at Alexandria rough natural blocks, each from 2 to 5 tons, form the inner slope, while Mr. Ormiston places these in the heart of the work. Moreover, the Alexandrian breakwater is raised to a minimum height of 10 feet above the highest water level; whereas Mr. Ormiston's section shows only 3 ft. 6 in.
9. The advantage of the form of construction adopted at Alexandria (and which is similar to the breakwater at Port Saïd, Marseilles, Trieste, and some of the Algerian ports) are :—
(1.) Rapidity of construction.
(2.) As no temporary staging is required there is but little risk of damage during the progress of the work. At Alexandria absolutely no damage was caused by the sea during construction.
(3.) Although the force of the sea is perfectly broken, yet, owing to the open character of the structure, a certain quantity of water passes between the blocks, whereby the impact of the wave is greatly diminished and the stability of the work increased.
10. I am, however, of opinion that as blocks of 20 tons weight have proved their ability to resist the heaviest seas to which they are exposed at Alexandria and Port Saïd, the conditions of Famagusta justify the adoption of masses of inferior weight. Mr. Ormiston states that the "fetch," or distance travelled by the waves at Alexandria, is 300 miles, and at Famagusta 100 miles. The heaviest sea, however, at Alex-
* Three plans annexed (not printed).
I am waiting for the official Return from Alexandria to fill in the exact figures.-S. B.
Not printed.
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