SHIPPING TO NORTH VIETNAM DURING AUGUST 1970

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 140
• Publication Date: September 1, 1970
• Content Type: IM

 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875RO01600030140-3
- - ? - i eiJ v r 01 I
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Intelligence Memorandum
Shipping To North Vietnam During August 1970
seffut
ER IM 70-139
September 1970
Copy No. 62
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31: CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
WARNING
This document contains information affecting the national
defense of the United States, within the meaning of Title
18, sections 793 and 794, of the US Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or re-
ceipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
CROUP I
Eedudal Irom oulom~dt
tlownpradind and
drtlmdfitolion
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
S]3CRET
Fc.; eword
All data in this mertorandiim are preliminary and
subject to minor changes as additional information
becomes available. Data for the preceding month and
monthly averages presented in the tables have been
adjusted to reflect corrections and additions.
Weights of cargoes are expressed in metric tons.
Because of rounding, components may not add to the
totals shown.
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31: CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
SECRET
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
September 1970
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
Shipping To North Vietnam During August 1970
Highlights
North Vietnamese seaborne trade in August, fol-
lowing the usual summer pattern, fell to 127,000
tons, about 40% below the monthly average during
January-July 1970. Imports dropped to 99,000 tons,
the lowest monthly level since February 1968.
Despite a decline in seaborne imports in each of
the last three months, cumulative imports for 1970
are close to the level during January-August 1969.
Foodstuff deliveries rose in August, but imports of
fertilizer and general cargo fell, and there were
no deliveries of bulk petroleum. Three Soviet ships
seaborne exports fell in August to 28,000 tons
,
well below the monthly average during January-June
1970. This decline resulted principally from a
standdown in apatite shipments and from reduced
coal exports.
Arrivals of merchant ships dropped to 29, the
lowest total since February 1968. A Chinese ship
made the first call by a foreign flag ship at the
Hon Nieu anchorage near Vinh since January 1970.
The first Singapore-flag ship to call at North
Vietnam in nearly a year arrived at Haiphong.
Note: This memorandum was produced solely by CIA.
it was prepared by the Office of Economic Research
and informatioi.on the number of ship arrivals was
coordinated with the Naval Intelligence Command.
SECRET
1 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
SECRET
Congestion at Haiphong was minimal throughout
August. The average number of ships in pot per
day decreased to 13, one less than in duly. The
average layhver time, however, rose from 17 to 19
days because of delays in discharging three Free
World ships. Dismantling, of the Hospital Wharf was
nearly completed in, August, end construction of the
extensi!tn of the Chamber of Commerce Wharves
continued.
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
SECRET
Seaborne Imports
1. Imports in August were below the mc.nthly
average during January-July, a seasonal phenomenon
for the last five years. Imports from the USSR
fell to 55,000 tons, the lowest volume in almost
a year, and those from China, falling for the fourth
consecutive month, declined to 25,500 tons (see
Tables 1 and 2).
2. Imports of petroleum in August fell to
2,900 tons, the lowest volume since July 1966 (the
month following the initial bombing of Haiphong's
petroleum storage facilities). All of the petro-
leum deliveries were packaged and arrived in small
consignments from the Black Sea on Soviet ships.
Petroleum deliveries probably will recover as North
Vietnam has requested deliveries of 35,000 tons for
September.
3. Imports of general and miscellaneous cargo
fell to 40,300 tons, well below the monthly average
for January-July. Fewer ships arrived from Eastern
Europe and Communist China, countries whose exports
to North Vietnam usually include a high percentage
of general and miscellaneous cargo. Three Soviet
ships -- the Kapitan VieZobokov, the Bakuriani, and
the BeZgorod Dnestrovskiy -- delivered 17 tons of
unidentified cargo that is probably military aid.
Fertilizer deliveries dropped to 10,500 tons --
7,300 tons of ammonium sulfate from Soviet Black
Sea ports and 3,200 tons of urea from Japan.
5. Foodstuffs was the only major import category
to increase in August. Deliveries rose to 45,200 tons
- 3 -
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
SECRET
but remained well below the monthly average of
60,200 tons for the preceding months of 1970. Ship-
ments from the USSR and China rose to 24,900 tons
and 10,500 tons, respectively. A 6,000-ton delivery
of wheat flour from Bulgaria made up the largest.
food shipment from Eastern Europe since June 1969.
A 3,800-ton delivery of rice from North Korea by a
Soviet ship was the largest food shipment ':o North
Vietnam from that origin on record and the first
since a 200-ton delivery of fish products In June 1969.
Exports
6. -S,aaborne exports, which like imports usually
decline in August, fell to 28,000 tons (see Tables 3
and 4). Coal exports of 10,500 tons were less than
half of the monthly average for 1970. These ship-
ments wen;. to Japan (4,000 tons), China (3,500 tons),
and to an unknown destination, probably Poland
(3,000 tons). If the 3,000 tons, which were carried
on a Polish ship, actually were unloaded in Poland
rather than at an intermediate port, this shipment
and a similar one last month would be the first
exports of North Vietnamese coal to Poland on record.
For the first month since October 1969 there were
no shipments of apatite. Exports of general cargo*
and rice reached 12,300 tons and 4,900 tons, respec-
tively, their highest levels in 1970.
Arrivals
7. Twenty-nine ships arrived in North Vietnam
from foreign ports in August, the lowest number
since February 1968 (see Table 5). All but one of
the ships called initially at Haiphong; two of these
vessels went on to Cam Pha after discharging to load
coal. Calls by Soviet and Free World flags were the
lowest since August 1968 and March 1967, respectively:.
8. A Chinese ship, the Hung Chi 149, made thi
first call by a foreign ship in the Vinh area since
January 1970. It offloaded 7,000 tons.of cargo,
believed to be rice, in the Hon Nieu anchorage near
Vinh. North Vietnamese coastal vessels frequently
* Exports of general cargo consisted principally
of textiles, Zime, agricultural products, and
handicrafts.
- 4 -
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
SECRET
shuttle between Haiphong and points on the south
coast of North Vietnam, but it is unusual for a
foreign flag ship to sail to that area.
9. Arrivals in August included the first vessel
under the Singapore flag to call in North Vietnam
since September 1969. This ship, the Golden ocean,
is ostensibly owned by the Hong Kong South Sea
Shipping Company, Ltd., a Hong Kong subsidiary of
Guan Guan Shipping, Ltd., of Singapore.* This
subsidiary is also the registered owner of the
Golden Bridge (formerly the London Breeze), which
was to be deliverer to North Vietnam in the spring
of 1970.** North Vietnam =a probably the beneficial
owner of the Golden Bridge, and may also own the
Golden Ocesan, exercising control through the
mechanism of a time charter. Con--eating the true
ownership of these ships will probably facilitate
their use in North Vietna.aese trade with Free World
countries. In August the Golden Ocean delivered
about 3,500 tons of cargo from Japan, mostly urea.
Activity in Haiphong
10. Congestion in Haiphong remained minimal.
The number of foreign dry cargo ships in port ranged
from a low of 10 to a high of 3/ and averaged only 13,
one less than in July (see Table 6). The average
layover time for departing dry cargo ships, however,
rose from 17 to 19 days, due to unusual delays in
the discharge of Free World ships (see Table 7).
The average layover time for the latter rose from
19 days in July to 38 days in August. Two of the
three departing Free World ships delivered cargoes,
largely unidentified, from Romania and North China;
a third delivered a full load of coal dust from
North China.
11. Construction at the western end of the new
wharves in Haiphong continued. Additional sheet
piling was driven, dismantling of the Hospital
Wharf was nearly completed, and more fill was
emplaced at its former location.
R This ownership is listed in Lloyd's Shipping
Index, 3 September 1970.
- 5- -
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3 ?
Seaborne Imports, by Ori_gin and Commodity
1970
Thousand Metric Tons
Foodstuffs
Fertilizer
Petroleum
General and
Miscellaneous Total
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
i
i
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Or
g
n
Aug
Jan-Jul
Aug
Jan-Jul
Au
Jan-Jul
a~
Au
J
-J
l
g
g
an
u
Aug
Jan-Jul
Total
45.2
60.2
10.5
17.1
2.9
34.9
40.3
-56.4
98.9
168.6
Communist
45.2
60.0
7.3
14.6
2.9
34.9
39.9
52.9
95.4
162.4
C/)
JSSR
24.9
39.8
7.3
11.6
2.9
34.4
19.9
22.9
55.0
108.7
Cpl
Eastern Europe
6.0
0.1
--
1.7
--
--
5.0
9.8
11..0
11.6
China
.10.5
15.6
--
--
--
0.4
15.0
19.2
25.5
35.2
North Korea
3.8
--
--
1.3
--
-
Negl.
1.0
3.8
2.3
Cuba
--
4.5
--
4.5
Free World
0
0.1
3.2
2.5
0
0
0.4
3
6
3
6
2
6
.
.
.
Japan
3.2
2.5
--
-
0.3
0.2
3.5
2.8
Cambodia
--
-
--
--
--
2.0
--
2.0
Other
--
--
--
--
0.1
1.4
0.1
1.5
a. Including 12,900 metric tons of unidentified cargo., 7,200 tons of metal products, 2,500
tons of machinery, 1,200 tons of vehicles, and 16,600 tons of other cargo.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
Seaborne Imports, by Flag and Commodity a/
1970
Thousand Metric Tons
A
Flag
Food-
stuffs
Ferti-
lizer
Petro-
leum
General
and
Miscel-
laneous
Total
Jul
Monthly
Average
Jan-Jul
Total
45.2
10.5
2.9
40.3
98.9
153.0
168.6
Communist
45.2
7.3
2.9
32.5
87.9
119.8
141.3
C!l
Soviet
28.7
7.3
2.9
19.9
58.8
73.4
111.4
n
C17
East European
6.0
--
--
5.0
11.0
18.5
11.6
Chinese
10.5
--
--
7.5
18.0
16.2
13.3
Cuban
--
--
--
--
--
11.5
4.5
North Vietnam
ese --
--
--
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.5
Free World
0
3.2
0
7.8
11.0
33.2
27.3
a. Identified imports include some estimates of bulk cargoes using methods
which have. proved to be highly reliable.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
Destination
Aug
Monthly
Average
Jan-Jul
Aug
Monthly
Average
Jan-Jul
Total
10.5
25.6
0.7
1.0
Communist
6.5
10.4
0
0
China
North Korea
Cuba
,Free World
USSR
Japan
Cambodia
1.5 0.7 1.0
1970
Apatite
Rice
Aug
Monthly
Average
Jan-Jul
Aug
Monthly
Average
Jan-Jul
3.3
4.9
2.1
9.2
0
0
--
--
--
--
--
--
3.2
--
--
6.0
--
--
--
--
--
0
0.1
4.9
2.1
--
Negi.
--
--
--
--
--
--
-
0.2.
4.9
2.1
General and
Miscellaneous
Total
Monthly
Monthly
Average
,Average
Aug
Jan-Jul
Aug
Jan-Jul
12.3
3.?
28.4
41.8
8.8
1.0
15.3
20.7
C!1
Negl.
Negl.
Negl.
Negl.
1.2
0.7
4.2
0.9
7.6
0.2
11.1
12.8
--
0.1
--
6.2
--
0.1
--
0.8
3.6
2.7
13.1
21.1
0.3
0.4
4.3
14.0
--
0.3
--
0.3
3.2
2.0
8.8
6.8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
Seaborne Exports, by Destination and Commodity
4.0 13.7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
Seaborne Exports, by Flag and Commodity a/
1970
Flag
General
and Monthly
Miscel- Average
Coal Cement Apatite Rice laneous Total Jul Jan-Jul
10.5 0.7
4.0 --
East European 3.0
Chinese
Cuban
Free World
a. Identified exports include some
have proved to be highly reliable.
0
4.9
12.3
28.4
31.9
39.9
--
1.4
2.3
7.7
9.5
20.1
f7
3.4
0.8
7.3
7.5
2.7
--
8.5
12.0
12.5
12.8
--
0.1
0.1
--
1.5
--
0.6
1.3
2.4
2.7
0
0
0
0
9.3-
1.9
estimates
of
bulk
cargoes
using
methods
which
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3 ?
Table 5
Ship Arrivals, by Type, Flag, and Origin
1970
Aug
Origins
Black Far Communist Other
Tine/Flag Sea East China Communist
Soviet
East European
7 7
Bulgarian
1
Polish
1
Chinese
Cuban
North Vietnamese
Free World
British
Somalian
Other
a. Singaporan.
b. Cypriot.
C. Cne under Cypriot flag and one under Maltese flag.
zee
World
Total
Jul
Total
Ave Monthly
Jan-Jul
8
29
39
43.0
8
29
34
37.3
--
--
5
5.7
7
26
31
36.6
1
13
15
23.9
--
2
3
2.4
--
1
--
0.4
--
1
3
2.0
5
5
5.4
1
1
0.7
5
7
4.1
3
8
6.4
2
4
4.3
-
3
1.9
1
a/
1 b/
0.3
c/
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
Table 6
Average Number of Dry Cargo Ships in Haiphong per Day
Number of Ships
Month
1967
1968
1969 1970
January
7
21
24
14
February
10
23
21
17
March
16
23
21
15
April
16
19
21
15
May
18
16
20
18
CE]
tTI
June
25
23
18
18
n
~
=1
t
July
22
30
21
14
August
17
28
17
13
September
13
34
17
October
13
33
15
November
12
29
11
December
13
27
13
Average for year
1.5-
25
18
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3
Average Layover Times
for Foreign Dry Cargo Ships Departing Haiphong a/
Number of Days
1967
1968
1969
1970
January
12
15
25
13
February
10
27
21
14
March
13
28
17
17
April
12
19
19
14
May
17
14
20
13
June
22
17
21
17
c
July
24
25
21
17
August
33
31
22
19
ri
September
19
41
21
October
19
35
19
November
18
30
16
December
15
29
14
Average for year
a. The average layover time for departing dry cargo ships is compiled by
averaging layover times (including both the day of arrival and the day of
departure) of all foreign dry cargo ships leaving Haiphong in the month.
Tankers are excluded from the average because they do not compete with dry
cargo ships for the limited berthing space in Haiphong.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP85T00875R001600030140-3