The 4,900 tonne, Type 23 frigate arrived alongside in Portland Port at midday on Friday 30 October for the start of a five-day visit.
HMS Portland has been granted the Freedom of Weymouth and Portland to strengthen her association with her affiliates, some of whom she took to sea on the Saturday. That evening, the ship's Commanding Officer hosted invited guests at a reception and the ship's company performed a capability demonstration.
Yesterday, the Freedom Parade took place on Weymouth Esplanade where the ship's crew exercised their freedom by marching along the seafront with bayonets fixed. Music was provided by the Band of the Adjutant General's Corps, before the event finished with a civic reception at the Pavilion Theatre.
The Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, Commander Tim Henry, said:
"It is a huge honour for my ship's company to be granted the freedom of this historic naval borough. We were actually awarded the Freedom in 2008 but the tempo at which HMS Portland has been operating has meant that this is our first opportunity to accept the award.
"The Royal Navy has had a long association with the Borough and I am delighted that we are able to continue to strengthen those ties."
The Lord Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Councillor Anne Kenwood, said:
"We are delighted to be granting the Freedom of the Borough to HMS Portland and in doing so, recognising her many affiliations and her historic association with the Borough. We hope that she will visit us regularly in the future."
After spending eight months away from home this year, conducting maritime security operations in the Middle East and Indian Ocean, HMS Portland recently helped commemorate a lost generation of submariners in Dundee, and then spent a week putting future submarine commanders through their paces, as they took part in the Submarine Command Course (SMCC) off the coast of Scotland.
The ship's visit to Weymouth and Portland continues today with visits by students from local schools and tomorrow, Tuesday 3 November 2009, between 1400hrs and 1830hrs, the gangway will be thrown down to allow members of the general public to board and find out about life on a modern navy warship.
Commander Tim Henry added:
"We are very much looking forward to spending time in Weymouth and Portland where I know that the ship will receive a warm welcome. I hope as many local people as possible will come and visit the ship on Tuesday afternoon."
The ship leaves Portland on Wednesday 4 November 2009 to continue with training prior to a short maintenance period that will ensure she is ready to deploy on operations in 2010, when she will once again spend seven months away from the UK.