Tímarit Verkfræðingafélags Íslands - 01.05.1922, Side 11

TÍMARIT V. F. í. 1922.
33
Survey of Harbours on the Icelandic Coast, 1917—’21.
Reports submitted to the Icelandic Government by N. P. Kirk, C. E., and Th. Krabbe, C. E.
(With drawings on map I.—XXI.).
For the purpose of assisting and improving the
fishing trade of Iceland the Icelandic Parliament
passed a resolution on the 12th of August 1915 to
the effect that the Government should cause a
general survey to be made of the various fishing
places round the coast of Iceland in order that a
homogenous plan might be forthcoming to show
where new constructions of harbours might profit-
ably be carried out, or where improvements in the
existing landing facilities, or other arrangements in
support of the fishing could be made. Owing to the
difficulty of obtaining the services of an engineer
with the necessary experience and knowledge of
Icelandic conditions, the matter was delayed until
the autumn of 1917, when civil-engineer Mr. N. P.
Kirk, who had just then completed the construction
of Reykjavik harbour, was appointed by the Govern-
ment to carry out the work. Mr. Kirk immediately
made the necessary preparations, and commenced
his travels round the coast in the spring of 1918.
He continued visiting various fishing places dui'ing
1919, and in the autumn of that year he had so
far completed his examinations that he went to
Copenhagen in order to prepare the material which
he had collected. Shortly after his arrival there, Mr.
Kirk unfortunately died quite suddenly. After his
death the Government entrusted the completion of
the work to civil-engineer Mr. Th. Krabbe, director
of the lighthouses in Iceland. Largely on the basis
of conversations and conferences which he had with
Mr. Kirk while the latter was carrying out his exa-
minations, and with the assistance of the com-
paratively few notes, outlined plans, and rough cal-
culations left by Mr. Kirk, Mr. Krabbe completed
the work in all its details, and in the autumn of
1921 he submitted to the Icelandic Government a
report of which a summary will be given in the
following. The report itself as well as all the plans
of proposed new harbour constructions and improve-
ments in landing facilities have been examined and
approved by civil-engineer, Councillor of State, Mr.
N. C. Monberg of Copenhagen.
The report covers altogether 49 fishing places,
and 21 drawings of plans are attached. The dis-
tricts examined are divided into 7 sections, viz:
I. the Reykjanes Peninsula and south coast to
Stokkseyri,
II. the south coast from Dyrhólaey to Djúpivogur,
III. the firths of the east coast,
IV. the north coast,
V. the north-western peninsula,
VI. Snæfellsnes,
VII. the northern part of the Faxe Bay.
I. The Reykjanes peninsula and south coast
to Stokkseyri.
The fishing from this districts is extensive and
important. The following places were visited:
1. Vogar in Vogarvik, map II. The coast
is open, and the landing facilities are nowhere good
with the exeption of the small creek, Vogarvik,
where Vogar is lying. It gives good shelter from
all southern and eastern winds, and, the anchor-
ground being good, boats, especially motor-boats,
fishing or trading in the southern part of Faxe
bay often take refuge there from rough weather.
Even dui'ing northern gales small boats can find
shelter in the creek.
To improve the landing facilities a pier of 300 m
will have to be built out to the rocks of „pórusker“,
and also on the south-eastern side of the rocks a
boat-bridge of 70 m, sloping on account of the tides.
At the end of the bridge the water will have a depth
of 1 m at the lowest tide. The pier should be con-
structed of stone, inclining outwardly 1: 2, inward-
ly 1:1; top 3 m wide, 5 m above water at low tide,
0,5 m at high tide, with a 1 m high parapet. The
bridge will be built into the pier and furnished with
wooden fenders.
Such a pier will be of assistance when loading
and unloading goods, and will also give cover for
hauling up the boats by closing the open space
between the rocks and land.
The costs of construction are estimated at about
Kr. 280,000.
On the plan is suggested (with dotted lines) a
further construction of two moles to form a suit-
able fishing-harbour. The north mole will be 235
m long, and constructed in continuation of the
above-mentioned pier, while the other mole will be
built from Kristjánstangi stretching in a north-
western or northern direction for a distance of
about 600 m. The total cost of these two moles is
estimated at abt. Kr. 1,435,000.
2. N j a r ð v i k, m a p III. The natural conditions
are very good, and a fishing-hai'bour can be con-
structed here to greater advantage than at Vogar;
it would give better shelter, the depth of water is
greater, and the area of the harbour would be
larger; the entrance is free from rocks, the bottom