America's North Shore Journal

Army Corps of Engineers

The Basrah Province learned that the third of three sunken wrecks was successfully removed from the navigation channel at Khor Az Zubayr Port earlier this month.

The wreck removal news was announced to the Iraqi news media at the Khor Az Zubayr Port observation tower by Iraqi Minister of Ports Captain Hussan M. Abdallah and Mr. Razzak, Advisor to the Minister of Transportation for Iraq. The three docks are used for import and export of fuel products, and the capability to moor three barges simultaneously at these three docks increases Iraq’s capacity to import and export fuel products—vital to Iraq’s economic prosperity.

Oil is one of Iraq’s major exports. However, importing fuel products such as kerosene, gasoline, diesel and LPG, will continue until Iraq refinery facilities are able to produce enough fuel products to meet consumption demands within the country. On hand to discuss what this means to Basrah province and to the future of Iraq imports and exports were port managers at the two major Iraqi ports, Khor Az Zubayr Port Manager, Mr. Basil and Umm Qasr South Port Manager, Capt. Harmad.

This latest $2 million wreck removal is the second effort to clear the Khor Az Zubayr Port. An earlier $5.7 million contract raised four wrecks and removed over 3 million cubic meters of dredged material from the navigation channels at docks 9, 10, and 11.

While dredging the docks to get an 11-meter channel depth, the three recently-raised, wrecks were discovered in the soft sediment bottom blocking dock 10 and obstructing passage to docks 9 and 11. The removal of all seven wrecks was reported by Chris Frabotta, construction representative for the US Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Southern District, speaking to the Iraqi news media in front of three recently removed wrecks.

Without the 11-meter depth, a fuel barge can only navigate into this area of the port during high-tide water depth of 13.5 meters (41 feet). While unloading, the barge sits on the soft sediment bottom, as the tide recedes to a depth of 7 meters (23 feet). The barge is stranded at the dock until the next high tide.

The Iraqi Port Authority can now resume their annual maintenance dredging at docks 9, 10 and 11 at Khor Az Zubayr Port to achieve 11-meter (36-feet) depth without the risk of damage to their equipment from the sunken wrecks.

Kathye Johnson, deputy director, Project Contracting Office, spoke to the news media about the United States assistance in helping Iraq restore vital transportation networks to ensure the future of Iraq’s stability and economic prosperity.

The two Khor Az Zubayr Port contracts were accomplished by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southern District using Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds.