Ships plaques collection in Portsmouth

Ships plaques in Portsmouth





Ships Plaques



Here at the Royal Maritime Hotel , in keeping with our name,  we have an impressive collection of Ships plaques.

Ships plaques, also known ship badges and are decorative plaques or badges typically displayed on the bridge or other prominent locations of a ship. They often feature the ship's name and emblem or crest, as well as other details such as the ship's date of construction, its builder, and its place of registration.

Often donated to us, we try to display as many as possible in our library and on the walls of our mezzanine. Our Veterans Outreach Support partners have also had a project to restore some of the older plaques.


A history of ships plaques


Ships plaques have a long history and were traditionally used to identify the ship and its owner, as well as to show off the ship's prestige and craftsmanship. They were also used to commemorate important events, such as the ship's launch or commissioning, or to recognize the service of crew members or officers.


Ships plaques today


Today, ships plaques are still commonly used on both military and civilian vessels, although they may have different designs and purposes depending on the type of ship and its owner. Military ships, for example, may feature the emblem or coat of arms of the navy or branch of service to which they belong, as well as other symbols or inscriptions that reflect the ship's history or mission.


In addition to their decorative and commemorative functions, ships plaques can also have practical uses. They can be used to identify the ship in port or at sea, for example, or to provide information to visitors or crew members about the ship's history and specifications.


Ships plaques are an important and traditional part of ship design and culture, and continue to be used on ships of all types and sizes around the world.


You can find all of our upcoming events at The Royal Maritime Hotel on this page.

HMS Warrior
by S JACK 7 July 2026
HMS Warrior
Summer Holidays Kids eat free in Portsmouth
by S JACK 30 June 2026
Summer Holidays - kids eat free at Horatio's restaurant
Summer Sundays
30 June 2026
Drop your bags with us at any time on Sunday, and hot the beach or the shops! £99 for a bed and breakfast with a bottle od Prosecco in your room!
Family Rooms
by S JACK 1 June 2026
New Family Rooms at the Royal Maritime Hotel in Portsmouth.
by S JACK 30 April 2026
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30 April 2026
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Cruise
by S JACK 12 April 2026
CRUISE HOTEL IS PERFECT FOR FINAL NIGHT Don't miss out on seeing our lovely Island City when your cruise ends. Stay another day in our historic hotel in Portsmouth. Located a short walk from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the Spinnaker Tower and Gunwharf Quays, Designer Outlet Shopping village there is so much to do here. Why not take an extra night and enjoy some time in Portsmouth before heading home. Please call us on 0 23 9298 2182 to book directly on our booking website .
2 April 2026
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by S JACK 27 March 2026
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Horatios restuarant
by S JACK 17 March 2026
Father's Day Lunch and Offer
Pround to support Room to Reward
by S JACK 11 March 2026
WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT ROOM TO REWARD
by S JACK 19 February 2026
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sustainable travel and tourism in portsmouth
by S JACK 19 February 2026
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by S JACK 7 January 2026
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