The CHANT was developed with experience gained by building the Tug, Inshore and Dock (TID).
As with the TIDs, CHANTs were built from prefabricated sections that were manufactured at various factories across the United Kingdom.
A model of the new design was then constructed for testing in a tank, which resulted in modification to the bow, involving the addition of a second chine.
They were constructed with a flat bottom to enable them to ground on beaches, while a double hull was used to minimise any chance of leakage.
A single mast with two derricks and winches was used to aid the loading and unloading of cased oil.
[4] The vessels were fitted with 220/270 hp engines, giving a maximum speed of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h), which was thought to be adequate because they were only intended for crossing the English Channel between southern England and French beaches.
[citation needed] Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle, Yorkshire built twelve vessels.
Due to the success of Operation Pluto, which put a fuel pipeline between the English and French coasts, the demand for CHANTs was not as high as had been thought initially.
[13] CHANTs were built to provide supplies of fuel to the Allied Forces in the aftermath of D-Day.
CHANT 26 was driven ashore on a large wave and ended up in a field having passed through a hedge.
[4] The MV Fermont (ex CHANT 49), which ran aground in 1991, was the last EMPIRE F type vessel in commercial service.
CHANT 28, which had been sold to the French Government in 1946, was still in service at Le Havre, France in 1981, her name never having been changed.