There is a Ferro Concrete Petrol Barge (closed, PCB type) at Harwich. These were originally built for use on D-Day but were found to be unsuitable.
It was in the cutting to the East of the Sailing Club serving as the clubhouse until replaced by LBK6 when it was moved a few hundred metres to its current position off the jetty, presumably holed, to serve as a breakwater: Westerly winds in the Stour can be unpleasant, even dangerous.
Further upstream, at Mistley, there are two more. Only one is visible:
There is another at Mistley which has been subsumed into the quay, it was visible in 2022 0n Google Earth:
A more comprehensive account of the Mistley FCBs is given on thecretefleet.com (Concrete Ship & Mulberry Blog)
Returning downstream on the left bank in Ewarton Bay, opposite Harwich, just West of Shotley, there is an open-type FCB. There are no elm strakes or fenders, the rust marks show where they were once fixed. It appears on Google Earth from 2000 but may have been there earlier.
The glass roof encloses the hold which was, apparently, used for parties. There has been a dispute with the local council which required it to be removed by 2021. It remains to be seen, in October 2024, when or if it will be moved in line with the result of the appeal.
Return to Barges and Lighters.