Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 1329

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NETHERLANDS-INDIA

These were constructed at a cost of more than Fls. 3,300,000. In 1893 attention was already drawn to the fact that the room available at the loading and the discharging wharves was no longer adequate for the increasing shipping traffic. In order to obtain further berthing accommodation for sailing vessels, two short piers were built, besides a small pier for discharging dynamite. These piers project from the long breakwater. The lack of sufficient space for ocean vessels of greater draught led in 1911 to an exten- sion and improvement of the harbour. The depth of water within the harbour was increased to 9 metres at low tide, while the four existing screw-pile wharves, the length of which is 120, 108, 108 and 96 metres, are able to berth four big steamers. Six large sheds have been built behind the jetties. The most important export consists of Ŏmbilin coals. The colliers moor at a special jetty, where a coaling-tip fills them at the rate of 300 tons an hour.

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 constructed 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 origin- ally 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. 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 8 metres at low tide. In this connection the building of a wharf of about 980 metres length, for vessels with a draught of about 10 metres has been completed over a length of 490 metres; the remainder will soon be finished. On the completed quay a shed is erected, 120 metres long and 37 metres wide.

Sabang. The harbour of Sabang is in a spacious bay, accessible from the west, in the island of Poelo Web, situated a little over 50 kilometres to the north of Koetaradja, 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. A new floating dry dock of 5,000 tons has been ordered and was due to arrive in Sabang during 1924. 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 Bangka 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. 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.

Island of Selebes

Macassar.-The important harbour of Macassar, situated on the south-west point of Selebes, possesses roads well protected by several coral islands and two breakwaters. The latter were constructed in 1919-21. One has a length of 1,000 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 7.50 metres at low water, was