One of the 19^th century’s greatest Ship Building Industries, Harland & Wolff, was established in Belfast City, in 1862.

In 1909,the world’s largest and most luxurious liner was commissioned by the White Star Line shipping company, to accentuate their existing fleet of Transatlantic Steam Liners.This new ship was designed by Alexander Carlisle, chief designer at Harland & Wolff.

To facilitate construction of the enormous ship,a whole new dock section was built at Harland & Wolff’s Quayside,known as yard number SS401, slipway 3. The number 401 was allotted to the world’s grandest ship,until it was christened ‘Titanic’ by Bruce Ismay, owner of the White Star Line.Titanic, its name alone conjures up an image of gigantic proportions, was 882.9 ft in length,92 ft wide, 175 ft high and weighed 46,328 tonnes.It was to be the biggest ship the world had ever seen.

During the building phase of Titanic, a severe code of discipline existed within the Harland & Wolff shipyard. An employee could be sacked on the spot, for arriving to work a few minutes late.Workers were permitted to use the toilet for no more than seven minutes each day. A company manager was employed to ensure this policy was strictly enforced, any man wishing to answer a vital call of nature, had to sign a log and was timed for the duration of his visit.Harland & Wolff stressed that the Health and safety of its workers was an important consideration within the shipyard, but it would seem not as important, as speed and efficiency. Fatalities were common place amongst the14,000 people employed at Harland & Wolff six days a week, manyon less than a weekly wage of £1.Working on the construction of Titanic was hazardous and claimed the lives of a number of men.

When the ship was near completion, Lord Perrie, the owner of Harland & Wolff, issued an instruction to reduce the number of proposed lifeboats, from 48 to 20. Alexander Carlisle the chief designer was adamant the ship should have the suggested number installed, in keeping with his original design and to cater for all possibilities.Senior management chose to apply the board of trade regulations, which required only 16 lifeboats, insisting that the ship would appear cluttered, with too many lifeboats festooned all over the upper deck. Alexander argued that board of trade regulations were drawn up, having never considered a ship the size of Titanic, which could carry up to 3000 passengers. Lord Perrie, accepted Alexander Carlisle’s resignation over the issue. He was replaced by junior designer Thomas Andrews, Perrie’s nephew. Andrews was content to accept the company’s position on the lifeboats and the ship was put into service, with the minimum number required by the regulatory body.

This rather vulgar assertiveness regarding the implementation of company policies would eventually bring about the premature and catastrophic end to the world’s greatest Liner. Titanic sank during its maiden voyage, on the night of April 14th 1912, after it struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, on route to New York. The captain of the stricken liner Edward Smith, had ignored warnings received from other vessels crossing the Atlantic Earlier that night, about large pack Ice floating in the path of all transatlantic ships.Titanic, which was regarded by Thomas Andrews as practically unsinkable having been built to stay afloat with four of its compartments fully flooded, sank in under three hours,after six of its compartments were breached by an Iceberg.

Over fifteen hundred people, men women and children, perished in the freezing Atlantic waters in April 1912. The grandest ship in the world designed to carry well over 2000 passengers and crew, had lifeboats for less than half that number.

The story of Titanic has been the subject of many books and films since it set off on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, almost 100 years ago.Titanic’s history is tragic from a number of perspectives; its sinking, the faith of some of its workers and the sectarian tension which erupted into violence amongst the shipyard workers in the early 20^th century.

Today, visitors to Ireland can relive the story of Titanic. The anniversary of the sinking of the vessel,will transform Belfast into Titanic City and Cobh in County Cork will become Titanic Town.

Why not make a visit to Belfast and Cobh part of your 2012 tour of Ireland. We will incorporate these wonderful locations into your holiday Itinerary, so you too, can experience Titanic’s Centenary Celebrations.

By John Daly  - Irish National Tour Guide