An item described the Chinese merchant shipping traffic on the Khara Irtush river where tugs were used similar to the ones on the Ili river on the section Kure, Sinkiang and Lake Balkash in the Soviet Union. Twice a year was in May and June a voyage made between Lake Zaisan in the Soviet Union and the Sinkiang harbours of Khabakhe/Hapaho and Burchun/Puerthtsin wile towing two barges by each tug. One of these barges was delivered at Khabake and the other one at Burchun. The barges were loaded with farm and mining equipment and when returning to the Soviet Union with ore. The crews consisted of Russian sailors and the tugs were Soviet-flagged adding the Chinese flag when docked. The coal fuelled tugs were built of plywood while the hulls were covered with metal sheeting and then painted black. Above the main deck was nothing painted but natural varnished resulting in a reddish mahogany colour while the funnel was painted bright orange. The dimensions were around 80 x 40 feet and with a shallow draught. The barges were of similar size, construction and colour.
Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, document number CIA-RDP80-00809A000500030230-0
Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, document number CIA-RDP80-00809A000500030230-0
