Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 1419

NETHERLANDS-INDIA

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Belawan (Deli).-Belawan, the most important harbour of North-East Sumatra-the land of Sumatra tobacco and rubber-is situated on the Island of Belawan, which has formed at the estuary of the Deli and Belawan Rivers. The harbour, originally con- structed by the Deli Railway Company, lies on the west side of the island, where the depth of the Belawan River is more than 7 metres. In the front of the mouth of this river an extended bank has formed, in which there is a channel with originally a depth of little more than 13 feet at high water; this circumstance was the reason that hitherto only smaller vessels have been able to make use of the harbour. For the convenience of commerce there are at Belawan several landing stages and a harbour for lighters having a water area of 2.75 hectares. With the large increase in the volume of traffic the need arose for more loading, discharging and storage space. In order to supply this need as much as possible, the Government, in 1913, took over the harbour works of the Deli Railway Company, thus facilitating the improvement of existing conditions, and further constructed a number of temporary and permanent godowns. At the present time the wharves have a total length of above 1,000 metres, 700 metres of which belong to the Government and 300 metres to private owners. Preparations for further extensions are being made. Inter alia, it has been decided to try to deepen the channel at the mouth of the Belawan river sufficiently to render it navigable by ocean steamers. The depth has already been increased by dredging to upwards of 7 metres at low tide. In this caonnection the building of a wharf of about 950 metres length, for vessels with a drught of about 10 metres will be completed within a year or two, and then Belawan will be developed into a well-equipped port which is bound to have a splendid future as an ocean harbour.

Sabang. The harbour of Sabang is in a spacious bay, accessible from the west, in the island of Poelo Weh, situated a little over 50 kilometres to the north of Kota Radja, the capital of the province of Acheen. The construction of the harbour, which serves principally as a coaling-station, dates from 1896. Since 1903 the harbour has been rebuilt and equipped with modern appliances. In the north-western portion of the bay are the coal wharves with a total length of 590 metres, alongside which ships of 9 metres draught can moor for loading and discharging coal. In 1905, electric conveyors were erected. To the south-west of the coal-wharves lies a floating 3,000-ton dry dock accommodating ships of 6 metres draught, while adjoining the dock is a quay specially intended for ships requiring repairs. In the northern part of the bay is a general commercial wharf, 200 metres long, with the requisite storage godowns adjacent.

Palembang. Palembang, which is situated on the Moesi River 90 kilometres from its mouth in the Banka Straits, is a tidal harbour; larger ships can only cross the bar at the mouth of the river, where the depth at high-water amounts to 6.3 metres, at flood-tide, but plans exist to improve the fairway. When there is no room available for ships at wharves, they remain at anchor in the stream, where they do not experience any difficulty from the strong current except during the rainy season (west monsoon). They can load and discharge there on both sides by means of lighters which come alongside. The first harbour works were constructed in 1894 and extended in 1909, the total cost being more than Fls. 500,000. Plans for building a harbour for deep-sea- going vessels have been prepared.

Island of Celebes

Makassar. The important harbour of Makassar, situated on the south-west point of Celebes, possesses roads well protected by several coral islands and two breakwaters. The latter were constructed in 1920-21. One has a length of 100 metres and the other a length of 560 metres. In the year 1908 the building of a screw-pile wharf, 500 metres long and 10 metres broad, with a depth alongside of 9 metres at low water, was finished. It runs approximately parallel with the shore, and has eleven godowns adjacent to it covering an area of about 9,000 square metres. The trade of Makassar has advanced with such rapid strides that from time to time important extensions have had to be made. In 1917 a quay with a length of 1,340 metres was completed, where ships of 9 metres draught can moor even at low tide. A lighter harbour has been made with a quay of about 600 metres and 26 short screw-pile wharves. Theextension of godowns and sheds keeps pace with that of the quays, so that the so-called new harbour has 5,500 square metres devoted to sheds in addition to 41,000 metres which can be used for open-air storage. On the north-side of the harbour reclamation works have been executed on a large scale, serving for storing coal, oil and fuel. Plans for further extensions are being made.