PORT OF VENTSPILS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004200720008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 11, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/01: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004200720008-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
E '~~010
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - US OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY USSR (Latvian SSR)
SUBJECT Port of Ventspils
The entrance to Ventspils was very
clear. There were two direction li
ht
t
g
s a
the entrance, The ship's course on entering the port was 133.5 degrees, corrected
bearing, the minefield indicated on the chart near the
coast actually existed. many ships which took no notice of
this field. Several times in thick snowy weather F _j ship anchored
without being sure of its position, and it was found out afterwards-that the
ship had been in the forbidden area.
2 There was a wreck about one fathom below the surface on the north side of the
course as one entered the harbor, approximately one-half nautical mile outside
the breakwaters. There was a bar at the same place which was marked on all
charts.
3.
25X1
25X1
4. There were some mooring places and wharfs along the river. A long wharf was
built on the eastern shore of the river approximately one-half nautical mile
above Ventspils. it had no name, but was
25X1
25X1
25X1
were electric and four of them were dies
three-ton and five-ton cranes were located on the wharf: two of the cranes
or s ante farther upriver there was an old tank-ship of between
There was a coal fueling station on the southern part of the wharf. The coaling
wharf had space for only one large ship. The station was equipped with a modern
Crane Ash t di t
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 11 June 1954
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
25>
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
STATE x
SECRET/CONTROL- US OFFICIALS ONLY
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/01: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004200720008-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/01: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004200720008-8
SECRET/CONTROL - US OFFICIALS ONLY 25X1
8,000 to 10,000 tons; it was moored and apparently served as a fueling station
for ships using oil..
When Riga was closed by ice, Ventspils was visited by an unusually large
number of commercial ships. 20
vessels in the harbor at the same time. Several ships were moored outboard
each other, but the ships in each group had to be of the same nationality;
for example, there were two F___]ships in one group, and three Soviet vessels
were in another group.
7. Idid not observe any naval vessels while at sea during 0 visits to 25X1
Ventspils. Approximately 30 naval vessels were moored at wharves in the Ventspils
harbor area during the winter season. Nine of these vessels were submarines.
8. encpuntered the fishing fleet based in Ventspils several times. The 25X1
fleet,which consisted of appi?oximately 40 motor vessels fished up to 30 nautical
miles off shore. One or two of these vessels were equipped with two guns each,
one on each side of the deck. The armed vessels had the same outward appearance
as the others, but the guns could only be seen from close-up.
SECRET/CONTROL - US OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/02/01: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004200720008-8