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EVENTS 2023 ~~ online & local venue  ~~ see EVENTS for details and to join.

Our 2023 events are "hybrid" ~ enjoy online or at our Dorset venue ~ see & hear about Dwarka, Carnival Breeze, Orcades 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 June 2023 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Kalaat Beni Hammed ~ at South Quay, Poole - May 2023  

On 8th May the Tank Landing Ship Kalaat Beni Hammed arrived in Poole to collect a helicopter. Berthed at South Quay, Darryl Morrell’s first image shows the helicopter (packed for shipping) being loaded the following day … plus a great aerial view of the ship! The vessel remained in port for a few days and Darryl's second super image shows the ship departing Poole on the 12th with a dozen of the ship’s company on the foredeck. Kalaat Beni Hammed was built by Brooke Marine at their Lowestoft shipyard and entered service with the Algerian Navy in 1984. After thirty years, the ship underwent a 15 month modernisation and service life extension refit at Navantia’s shipyard in Ferrol, North West Spain, returning to service in September 2015. Coincidentally, her flight deck lighting was installed by Poole-based Aeronautical & General Instruments (now Trident Maritime Systems) during the refit.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for June 2023 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Kalaat Beni Hammed ~ departing Poole - May 2023  

Kalaat Beni Hammed is one of two amphibious logistics ships built in the UK for the Algerian Navy in the 1980s. Her sister ship Kalaat Beni Rached was built at Vosper Thorneycroft’s Woolston yard in Southampton. They feature a bow ramp to land vehicles ashore, a large internal vehicle storage area with stern ramp, flight deck for operating heavy helicopters, plus troop and cargo carrying capabilities.

Key Dimensions for Kalaat Beni Hammed (pennant number 472) … Displacement Tonnage = 2,130 ... Length = 93m … Hold dimensions 75m x 7.4m … Ramps = 18m bow & 5m stern … Capacity = 650 tons of cargo; 240 troops; 81 crew … Built in 1984.

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