Welcome to ~SHIPS~DORSET~ where those interested in ships, shipping, and wider maritime matters from Dorset and the surrounding region meet to share, learn & enjoy.

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Our events are "hybrid" ~ enjoy online or at our Dorset venue ~ see & hear about Spirit of Discovery, Queen Mary, Marco Polo and many more ships - brought to you by our enthusiastic speakers. 

Talks & Meetings on Ocean Liners, Cargo Ships, Ferries, Mariner's Memoirs, Paddle Steamers, Cruise Ships, Naval History, Ship Design, Maritime Memories and much more ~ enjoyed by ships & shipping enthusiasts ~ a community with common interests 

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~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for February 2025 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Hartland Point ~ at anchor in Poole Bay - January 2025  

When our ~Ships~Dorset~ contributor Frazer Hockey took these super photographs, the Hartland Point was anchored in Poole Bay on the 12th January ... and there was a lot of activity at Marchwood Military Port near Southampton! Hartland Point, together with sister-ships Eddystone and Hurst Point are involved in moving equipment to Eastern Europe participating in NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2025 being held in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. The United Kingdom is providing the largest contribution of forces to the exercise with over 2,600 personnel and 730 vehicles deploying to NATO’s eastern flank for the Alliance’s principal exercise of the year. These ships are well suited to such tasks with a straight stern ramp 16m long & 17m wide (with 12 independently operated "fingers" enabling the ship to operate at narrow link-spans) ... internal ramps to all cargo decks ... and a side ramp on the starboard side. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for February 2025 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Hartland Point ~ at anchor in Poole Bay - January 2025  

The Point Class of six roll-on/roll-off sealift ships were originally procured under a Private Finance Initiative for use as naval auxiliaries to the British armed forces. Two of the ships have since been released, leaving four available including Hartland Point. The four ships are operated by Foreland Shipping Limited, established in 1999 to build, commission and operate these specialised vessels in the UK Strategic Sealift Service. Foreland Shipping is part of the Hadley Shipping Group. Hartland Point was built by Harland & Wolff at their Belfast yard in 2002. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has a 22-year charter from Foreland Shipping who own, operate and crew the ships, utilising them as merchant vessels when they are not required for military service.

Key Dimensions for Hartland Point … Gross Tonnage = 23,335 … Length = 193m … Beam = 26m … Deadweight Tonnage = c9,900 … Ro-Ro Lane Metres = 2620m providing trailer capacity of c160 … OR … Container capacity = c410 TEU … Max. Service Speed 18 knots ... in service since 2002.

To view previous "Images of the Month" click our Image Archive link ...