The Port of London regularly welcomes a wide variety of ships, whether they're freight, cruise vessels or even military class. Here are a few of the latest:

Formidable HMS Defender passes Tilbury as she leaves the Port of London for open sea. The Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer was in the capital for a six-day visit, supporting Gallipoli campaign centenary celebrations.

Guided to her berth at Greenwich ship tier by Port of London pilot patrols, it’s thought to be the furthest up the Thames a Type 45 destroyer has ever journeyed.

HMS Defender has recently returned from her maiden deployment in the Middle East. Members of the public were invited to have a look around during her Port of London visit.

Destroyers are committed around the world 365 days a year, where they hunt pirates, drug smugglers and submarines. They defend the fleet from air attack and provide aid after natural disasters.

Length: 152 metres
Beam: 21.2 metres
Tonne displacement: 8000
Weapons/equipment: MK8
Gun, Sampson multi-function
radar, Phalanx Gatling gun,
Sea Viper anti-air missile.

Interesting fact: HMS Defender’s
anti-air missile can target enemy
craft up to 75 miles away and
travels at more than 3,000mph.

Viking Star will become one of the largest-ever cruise ships to visit central London, when she briefly stops off at Greenwich ship tier next week for a day. She’s the first ocean-going cruise ship of the Viking River Cruises fleet.
Length: 227 metres   Draught: 6.30 metres
Beam: 29 metres       Tonnage: 47,800
Passengers: 930       Staterooms: 465

Helicopter carrier and assault ship HMS Ocean is often described as Britain’s biggest warship. She can carry 12 Sea King and six Lynx helicopters. The dedicated helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship is designed to take troops to the heart of the action.

Length: 203 metres
Beam: 35 metres
Draught: 6.5 metres
Speed: 18 knots max
Capacity: 40 vehicles
Weapons: Mk2 guns, Phalanx CIWS,
miniguns, machine guns