London-based subsidiary of Danish contractors built a large dry-dock in Tilbury Docks in 1918, which also had concrete lock gates.
All five barges were floated out on 1 May 1919, and completed as coaling barges for the Admirality, equipped with coal handling transporters by Temperley.

General Arrangement of Concrete coaling Barge with Temperly Transporters

CRETECOAL (OC 500) (coaling barge) Yard no: 500 Lch.: 1919.05.01., Compl.: 1919.11. 689 grt., 639 nrt. Dim: 54,86 m x 10,82 x 4,87 m. Owners: 1919.11.: Completed for the Admirality, London, U.K. 1923: Sold to France as a hulk at Oran, Algeria. (?)
CRETECOKE (OC 501) (coaling barge) Yard no: 501 Lch.: 1919.05.01., Compl.: 1919. 11. 689 nrt. Dim: 54,86 m x 18,78 x 4,87 m. Owners: 1919.11.: Completed for the Admirality, London, U.K. 1923: Sold to France. (?)
CRETEFUEL (OC 502) (coaling barge) (Yard no.: 502). Lch.: 1919.05.01., Compl. 1919.11. 689 grt, 639 nrt. Dim: 54,86 x10,80 x4,88, Draft: 4,37 m. Owners: 1919.11.: Completed for the Admiralty, London, U.K. 1922: Anglo - Danish Coal Co., Denmark, renamed A.D.C.C. No. 1 1928.. Kulhandel A/S, Sonderborg, Denmark. Renamed HVALEN 1933.. Kampman, Kierulf & Saxild, Copenhagen, Denmark.
CRETACITE (OC-503) (coaling barge) Yard.no: 503 Lch: 1919.05.01., Compl.: 1919.11. 689 grt. Dim: 56,39 x 10,67 x 5,49 m. Owners: 1919.11.: Completed for the Admirality, London, U.K. 1923: Sold to France as a hulk at Oran, Algeria 1930.01.29.: Sprang leak and sunk at Oran.	CRETACITE
CRETELL (OC-504) (coaling barge) Yard.no: 504 Lch.: 1919.05.01., Compl.: 1919.11. 700 grt Dim: 54,86 m x 35,5 feet x 16,0 feet Owners: 1919.11. Completed for the Admirality, London, U.K. 1923: Sold to France (?)	Launch of CRETELL

Thanks to David Asprey, U.K. for updating help with this page.

From David Alston we get this beautiful picture from the construction site. Look here.

Last update: 2007.10.16.