Wear Concrete Building Co.Ltd, U.K.
 (founded 1918)

Objects: To enter into a agreement with Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Herman P.T.Lind and Christian F.A.Ingerslev, to construct any articles made wholly or partly of Ferro-Concrete, to contract for building, wholly or partly in ferro-concrete or otherwise, vessels, harbours, docks, wharves, piers, factories, warehouses and works, &c.
Signatories: W.B.Wark , W.Farlam

The Wear Concrete Building Co. Ltd., acquired in 1918 a site of about 1000 ft. long by 600 ft. wide, between the yard of Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., and the pithead of Hylton Colliery, part of the riverside region known as the Saltgrass, between Southwick and Castletown, Sunderland, on which it is proposed to construct ferro-concrete tonnage. The site will be sufficient for the laying down of seven or eight berths for ship up to 300 ft. long, and is now being laid out by Robt. Hudson & Sons, Sunderland. Whilst much depends on the labour supply, it is hoped to have things sufficiently forward by May of this year for the construction of shipping to be commenced. At first, only such small crafts as concrete tugs, lighters, sea-going barges, etc., are to be undertaken but, in due course, merchant ships or fairly large dimensions are contemplated. Mr. Frank Forsythe who has been appointed manager of the yard, has had considerable experience abroad in the construction of concrete ships.

CRETEHAWSER (s.tug) (Off.no.: 143118) Yard.no: 1
 Lch.: 1919.03.15., Compl.: 1919.04.
262 grt, 0 nrt
Dim: 38,25 x 8,43 x 4,50 m.
Engine: T.3-cyl.,750 ihp, Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool.  1 screw.
Owners:
1917: Ordered as CT 1
1919.04.: Completed for The Shipping Controller, London, U.K. as CRETEHAWSER
 1921: Transferred to the Board of Trade, London, U.K.
1922: Crete Shipping Co. Ltd., London, U.K. (Mgr: Stelp & Leighton Ltd.)
1935: Samuel Levy, South Shields, U.K.
1935: South Stockton Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Stockton for scrap.
1936: Dismantled and hull beached in River Wear.
[Hulk still on River Wear 1998 see a picture here: http://www.afundit.co.uk/Wearships1.htm]

CRETEROPE (s.tug) Yard.no: 2 (Off.no.: 143300)
 Lch.: 1919.05.29., Compl.: 1919.07.
262 grt, 0 nrt
Dim: 38,10 x 8,38 x ? m.
Engine: T.3-cyl., 750 ihp, 1 screw. Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool.
Owners:
1917: Ordered as CT 2
1919.07.: Completed for The Shipping Controller, London, U.K. as CRETEROPE.
1921: Transferred to the Board of Trade, London, U.K.
1922. Crete Shipping Co. Ltd., London, U.K. (mgr: Stelp & Leighton Ltd.)
1923.09.: Converted to a hulk.
1924.05.: Dismantled.

CRETECABLE (s.tug) Yard.no: 3, (Off.no.: 143370)
 Lch.: 1919.07.17, Compl.: 1919.11.
262 grt, 0 nrt.
Dim: 38,10 x 8,38 x ? m.
Engine: T.3-cyl., 750 ihp, MacColl & Pollock Ltd., 1 screw.
Owners:
1917: Ordered as CT 3.
1919.11.: Completed for The Shipping Controller, London, U.K. as CRETECABLE.
1920.06. Struck the North Pier at Great Yarmouth when entering the harbour and sank
1920: Refloated and repaired.
1920.10.09: Wrecked off Wheathall Point, Whitburn, Sunderland (Shoreham for Tyne towing barge CRETEROCK) after collision with trawler LORD CECIL. CRETEROCK also grounded and broke her back.
 creteca2.jpg (2555 bytes)   
CRETECABLE                                                               
cretecab.jpg (4211 bytes)
 CRETECABLE after she struck the pier.

Cancelled:    CT 4 - 6 (Yard no. 4 -6)
                    2 x CT (unofficial order)

Thanks to David Asprey for updating help with this page.

Last update: 2003.03.25.