Portland Harbour | Portland Port
Portland Harbour is located at the North East of the Island in the Castletown area and is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world.
The original harbour was formed naturally by the protection offered by the south coast of England, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland. This gave shelter from the weather to ships from all directions except the east and was considered a strategic location by King Henry VIII who built Portland Castle and Sandsfoot Castle to defend the anchorages.
Construction of the modern harbour began in 1849 when the Royal Navy created a breakwater to the south of the anchorage, made of Portland Stone blocks from local quarries. This was completed in 1872 and created a much larger harbour providing protection from south-easterly winds.
In 1906, with the threat of torpedo attack from the eastern side of the anchorage, two more breakwaters were added. A further barrier against submarine attack from the south came in 1914 when HMS Hood was scuttled across the southern entrance to the 1848 breakwater.
Since the departure of the Royal Navy from Portland in 1996, Portland Harbour Authority Ltd has been operating all activities within the Harbour. Though still frequented, on occasion, by the British and foreign naval vessels, the harbour has been transformed into a thriving commercial shipping port offering services to vessels needing fuel, repairs and maintenance as well as serving as a regular base for various Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. In recent years the port has also seen a marked increase in visits by cruise ships calling for excursions to the multitude of locally accessible attractions.
The harbour is also a very popular location for wind surfing, kite surfing, diving and sailing and Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which will host sailing events in the 2012 Olympic Games, is located on the south-western shore.
A new Marina complex, due to open in early 2009, is currently under construction and will offer more than 600 berths and related facilities and services for all manner of leisure craft, yachts, powerboats and super-yachts.
For more information about Portland Port please visit their website at www.portland-port.co.uk.
To bring your group to the Heights Hotel so that you can explore Portland Harbour and the surrounding area, please call Jenny or Kathy to discuss your personal requirements on 01305 821361.
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