Titanic launch sequence 1

Launch of Titanic, 31 May 1911.

The list of dignitaries at the launch included Lord and Lady Pirrie; J. Pierpoint Morgan, owner of the White Star Line and Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star Line, with members of his family. 

There was no ceremonial breaking of a bottle on Titanic's bows to start the launch, but rather a signal was given by Lord Pirrie for the firing of rockets.  It took 62 seconds for Titanic’s hull – over 882 feet long and weighing 24,360 tons – to slide from her building berth into the waters of Belfast harbour.

Over 100,000 spectators turned out on launch day to witness this spectacle. Tickets were sold for a reserved enclosure at the Albert Quay, the proceeds going to local hospitals.