British naval floating drydock towed to Alexandria, Egypt in 1939

American Naval Attaché at London, England reported on 24 July 1939 No. 670 that the large British naval dry dock leaving Portsmouth on 24 June towed by three Dutch tugs arrived at Alexandria, in the morning of 20 July and was moored to a specially prepared berth. During the voyage of 6 weeks no accident occured. On board was a crew of 70 dockyard men and men of the towing company..(1)

Note

1. The Dutch newspaper De Avondpost dated 8 July 1939 reported that the involved Dutch tugs were the Zwarte, Witte Zee and Thames of L. Smit&Co,’s Internationale Sleepdienst, Rotterdam, Netherlands,  it was a 31,000 tons dry dock passing Gibraltar on 5 July. The dock was manned by 58 men commanded by the Dutch merchant captain J.C. de Baar. The dock was fitted out with bath rooms, hospital, canteen and even a swimming pool.

Source

National Archives USA. Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Series: Secret Naval Attaches Reports. Estimate of potential military strength (pt.). Summaries. Reports from London, Paris, Brussels, Rome and Berlin. Roll M975-001.