The floating dry dock ‘Bermuda’ celebrates 143 years of arrival in Bermuda today.The ‘Bermuda’ was built in 1866 in North Woolwich, England, and arrived on Bermuda’s shores in 1869. It was a patented invention of Messrs Campbell Johnstone and Co. It weighed 8,200 tonnes and could lift any vessel afloat at the time except for the Great Eastern, which was a large iron sailing steam ship.It was the largest floating dock ever constructed and only lost that distinction to its successor in 1901, Admiralty Floating Dock #1, also made for the Bermuda Dockyard.In her prime, the ‘Bermuda’was used to accommodate large warships. The Bermudawas more than 47,000 sq ft and 381ft long and 123ft at its maximum width, and a depth of 74ft. It could easily accommodate ships up to 370ft long and 25ft wide.It went on to serve the Royal Navy until 1906. After partially dismantling the dock, it was towed away from its post in Dockyard. During the towing process, it was caught in a gale and drifted over to Spanish Point, where it got lodged on the rocks and became unmovable. In 1950, the Bermuda Government tried to clear the bay of the remnants of the dock using dynamite, to no avail. The now rusted and ruined floating dock is located at the entrance to Stoves Bay, also known as Pontoons in Spanish Point.