The Steam Tug "Cretehawser" was launched by the Wear Concrete Building Company Ltd in Southwick in 1919. Near the end of First World War traditional boat building resources were low and it was thought that using concrete to build tug boats and barges would prove to be a cheap temporary solution. However, the average cost of a concrete barge was nearly 40% more than an equivalent steel vessel, so the idea was eventually scrapped. Each concrete tug was given a name starting "Crete", there was also: Creterope, Creterock, Cretestem and Cretecable. Only Cretehawser survives.
Cretehawser was used as a tug until 1935 when she was sold for scrap. She was used as an emergency breakwater at the South Dock . During the Second World war, she was hit during an air raid in 1942 and was towed up the river to her current place of rest.
There is plenty of free parking a short walk from this cache, the path is good for walking and cycling - dogs are allowed. Probably not one for after dark.