In 1917, during some of the darkest days of World War I, The British Government commissioned the construction of 154 concrete ships - 24 powerful Steam Tugs and 130 barges, each of 1000 tons deadweight.
World War I thankfully ended before the programme was complete, but still, 64 'Crete Ships' were launched by the end of 1920.
The last surviving floating 'Crete Ship', 'Cretegaff', lies in Carlingford Marina, where I live in the Republic of Ireland.
When I first saw her, I had never heard of a concrete ship ! Why build a ship in concrete ? What is she doing here ? How did she get here ? How does she float ?
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