Why Belfast?
This section describes life in Belfast in the early years of the 1900's. It reveals how the city became one of the greatest industrial centres of that time.
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Design & Build
Why Belfast?
1861 - Design & Build
Titanic Timeline
1861
Edward J. Harland and Gustav W. Wolff establish Harland & Wolff shipbuilders
1907
Decision made to build three new ships by Bruce Ismay (White Star Line) and Lord Pirrie (Harland & Wolff), design begins in June.
June, 1907
Preliminary designs begin in the Harland and Wolff Drawing office
July, 1907
Work begins to create two new slips at the Harland & Wolff ship yard using the overhead Arrol gantry
29th July, 1908
Design of Ship No. 400 (Olympic) and No. 401 (Titanic) approved by Bruce Ismay and other White Star directors.
16th December, 1908
Keel of Olympic laid
31st March, 1909
Keel of Titanic laid
19th October, 1910
Plating finished on Titanic
20th October, 1910
Olympic hull launched
31st May, 1911
Titanic hull launched
14th June, 1911
Maiden voyage of Olympic
30th November, 1911
Keel of Britannic laid
31st March, 1912
Titanic fitting out completed
2nd April, 1912
Titanic undergoes one day’s sea trials before returning to Belfast. Departs Belfast at 8pm for Southampton.
1914
Britannic launch
1912 - On Board
Titanic Timeline
3rd April, 1912
Titanic arrives at Southampton at noon
10th April, 1912
Titanic departs Southampton bound for New York on maiden voyage at 11.45 am
10th April, 1912
Titanic arrives at Cherbourg, France at about 6pm for passengers to embark
11th April, 1912
Titanic calls to Queenstown at about 11.30am for passengers to embark
12th April, 1912
Travelling on north Atlanic at about 21 knots
13th April, 1912
Continued progress towards New York
14th April, 1912
Titanic receives warnings of ice ahead
11:40pm, 14 April 1912
At 11.40pm iceberg seen, Titanic turns to port but strikes iceberg causing 300 foot gash on starboard side
1912 - Loss
Titanic Timeline
12:15am, 15th April 1912
Distress call CQD sent out from wireless room, Cunard liner Carpathia responds
12:30am, 15th April 1912
Captain Smith orders lifeboats filled, women and children first
1:40am, 15th April 1912
Last lifeboat lowered on starboard side of Titanic
1:50am, 15th April 1912
Last marconigram communication between Olympic and Titanic
2:05am, 15th April 1912
Last lifeboat lowered on port side of Titanic
2:20am, 15th April 1912
Titanic sinks with loss of over 1,500 lives
4:10am, 15th April 1912
Carpathia begins to take on board survivors from lifeboats
8:50am, 15th April 1912
Carpathia leaves site of sinking with 705 survivors on board
18th April, 1912
Carpathia arrives in New York with survivors
Myth & Memory
Titanic Timeline
1912
Shock on both sides of Atlantic at loss of Titanic
1914
Unveiling of memorial to engineers in Southampton
1920
Unveiling of Titanic monument in Belfast
1955
Publication of Walter Lord’s book A Night to Remember
1958
Film A Night to Remember is released
1985
Titanic wreck discovered
1993
Removal of artefacts from wreck
1997
Film Titanic by James Cameron is released