design & build - national museums northern ireland · 2019-03-14 · design & build by the...

© National Museums NI, 2019 Archive of Titanic website for educational use

Design & Build

By the early 1900s, Belfast was a thriving industrial city with a population of around 390,000. Many

of its citizens were employed in the linen, engineering and shipbuilding industries.

Harland & Wolff, the largest of these shipyards, built over 70 vessels for the White Star Line. The

most famous of these were the Olympic‐class vessels, Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, designed and

built between 1908 and 1914.

Today, Harland & Wolff’s two magnificent yellow twin cranes, Goliath (1969) and Samson (1974) still

stand guard over the city.

Why Belfast?

This 1912 map of the north of Ireland shows the location of Belfast at the head of Belfast Lough.

During the 19th century, Belfast experienced enormous industrial growth, much of which was due to

the linen industry.

In fact, by 1873, Belfast was the largest linen producing centre in the world and its vast, noisy, damp

mills employed thousands of workers.


The sheltered waters of Belfast Lough proved ideal both for trade and for shipbuilding. The Harland

& Wolff shipyard, birthplace of Titanic, was formed in 1861. Harland & Wolff’s magnificent twin

cranes, Goliath and Samson, built in 1969 and 1974 respectively, still stand guard over the city,

evidence that Belfast remains an important port and a gateway to the world.

Belfast Titanic City 1912

Belfast city centre c. 1912.

This photograph of Castle Junction, with a view down Royal Avenue, was taken around 1912.

It shows a busy, wealthy city centre with many tall, elegant buildings. It also reveals Belfast’s electric

tramway system which connected the city’s commercial heart to its expanding suburbs.

Belfast’s population had grown to around 390,000 by this time, and many of Belfast’s citizens

worked in its world‐famous linen, engineering and shipbuilding industries.

Victoria Street, Belfast

Victoria Street, Belfast c.1912

This photograph of Victoria Street in 1912 reveals much about the growing prosperity and modernity

of Belfast at the start of the twentieth century. The building to the right in the foreground is the old

town hall. Its original function was replaced by the magnificent Belfast City Hall, opened in 1906 at a

cost of £360,000.

Note too, the electric tramway which replaced the earlier horse‐drawn trams. Powered by overhead

wires, tramways represented the height of technological innovation and provided a link between the

city’s suburbs and its centre. Even the elegant Edwardian lady, setting off on her bicycle, suggests


that Belfast was a confident city with a clear sense of its direction.

Stephen Gwynne was a famous Irish journalist, politician, author and commentator of the time. In

1915, in his book ‘The Famous Cities of Ireland’, he wrote this of Belfast:

“…she is enormously occupied by her present, enormously and justly proud of what her citizens are

and what they have accomplished”.

Conor Painting of Shipyard Workers

‘Men of Iron’, oil painting by Belfast artist William Conor.

The Belfast artist, William Conor (1881 – 1968), is celebrated for his warm and sympathetic

portrayals of working‐class life in Ulster. In this oil painting, dated 1922, ten years after the

completion of Titanic, Conor captures the humanity and skills of the shipyard workers and conveys

pride in the ship that is being launched.

Harland & Wolff

The names Edward Harland and Gustav Wolff are closely linked with Belfast’s ship building

industry. Their partnership in 1861 laid the foundations for what was to become one of the greatest

shipyards in the world.

Throughout its lifetime the Harland and Wolff shipyard produced over 1,700 vessels and at its peak,

employed a workforce of 35,000.


Launch of RMS Celtic 1901

Launch of the White Star liner, Celtic, at Queen’s Island, 4 April 1901.

In the foreground men are working at the empty slipway, while on the water, tugs prepare to

manoeuvre Celtic’s giant hull to the fitting‐out wharf for completion. Here teams of skilled craftsmen

would turn the mainly empty vessel into a luxurious floating palace. On her delivery to the White

Star Line in July 1901, Celtic was the largest ship in the world at 20,904 tons.

Harland & Wolff Dimensions Book

Extract from an original Harland & Wolff ‘Dimensions Book’

Ship No. 401, Titanic

The dimension books record technical descriptions and details of ships built by the

company. Vessels were given an individual Ship Number, which was allocated in chronological

order. So, for example, Olympic was Ship No. 400 and Titanic was Ship No. 401.


Fitting out Titanic

Titanic fitting‐out at the deepwater wharf early in 1912.

Even without her fourth ‘dummy’ funnel, added to maintain the ship’s elegant lines, Titanic

dominates this industrial landscape.

Harland & Wolff's huge floating crane, for lifting equipment on board, is berthed between the ship

and the wharf. Two long gangways connect the ship to the shore.

If you look closely, you’ll see the workers' ‘heads’ or lavatories, fitted clear of Titanic’s bow on the

left hand side of the photograph.

Titanic and Olympic together

The two sister ships were together for the last time at the beginning of March 1912.

Olympic (left) had returned to Belfast for propeller repairs, a result of a collision with the Royal Navy

cruiser, HMS Hawke.

Titanic (right) was nearing completion. This photograph was taken as Olympic entered the flooded

Thompson Graving (dry) dock at high tide, shortly after 9.00am on Saturday 2 March 1912.


Titanic nearing completion

Titanic nearing completion at the deepwater fitting‐out wharf in the second week of March 1912.

Titanic now faces seaward after being towed from the dry dock on 8 March. The photograph shows

that the last‐minute improvement of enclosing the forward part of Promenade Deck A with sliding

windows had not yet been done. This was necessary to ensure that First Class passengers would

remain dry while walking on the forward part of the promenade decks.

Titanic prepares to leave Belfast

Titanic at Belfast and ready for sea, April 1912

On 1 April 1912, Titanic was completed and ready to sail from Belfast to Southampton, However her

departure was put off until the following day due to a strong north‐west wind, as shown in this

photograph by the wind‐blown smoke from Titanic's funnels.


Belfast's Titanic Shipyard

Belfast's Harland & Wolff Shipyard where Titanic was built.

Belfast’s shipbuilding industry expanded rapidly in the late 19th century. As the size and numbers of

new ships increased, Harland & Wolff continuously expanded and improved their Queen’s Island

yard.

In 1854, the Harland & Wolff shipyard covered an area of only 1.5 acres and employed 100 men. By

1897, the growth of the company meant that its yards occupied 80 acres and employed 10,000 men.

This drawing illustrates the scale of the shipyard prior to its reorganisation in 1907/08 for the

construction of Olympic & Titanic. The commercial docks in the foreground clearly show how trade

dominated the western side of the River Lagan, while shipbuilding was the major activity to the east.

Belfast's Shipyard Plan 1911

1911 plan of Harland & Wolff's shipyard at Queen's Island, Belfast.


This plan illustrates Harland &Wolff's extensive engineering and workshop facilities, together with 9

slipways for the construction of ships of different sizes. Olympic and Titanic were built on Slip Nos. 2

and 3 at the bottom left of the plan.

Letter to Harbour Master in Belfast, 21st July 1911


White Star Line

The White Star Line was bought by Thomas Ismay in 1868. His son, Bruce, took over as company

director in 1899 when Thomas died. White Star was one of the first shipping lines to offer Third

Class accommodation, in addition to First and Second Class.

Rather than compete with the smaller and faster liners belonging to its main rival, Cunard, White

Star committed to comfort and reliability, rather than to speed. This was demonstrated in its three

Olympic‐class liners, Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, built by the Belfast shipyard of Harland & Wolff.

The Titanic idea - Lusitania, 1907

1907 postcard of Cunard liner Lusitania.

Olympic and Titanic were built to compete with the Cunard Line's Lusitania and her sister ship,

Mauretania. Completed in 1907, these ships were then the largest and fastest in the world. The

Cunard ships weighed almost 32,000 tons and were fitted with innovative turbine machinery, which

meant they had a maximum speed of over 26 knots.

Lusitania was sunk by a German U‐boat on 7 May 1915 off the south coast of Ireland. Mauretania

remained in service with Cunard until September 1934.


Titanic Publicity 1911

This illustration shows the cover of a White Star Line promotional booklet, published in May 1911,

which promotes the company’s new super‐liners, Olympic and Titanic.

White Star’s advertising of the ships focused on their huge size and supremacy on the oceans.

Scale model of Titanic and Olympic

Model of the sister ships Olympic & Titanic, built in Harland & Wolff’s model shop c.1911 for

promotional display by the White Star Line. Olympic and Titanic were intended to overshadow the rival Cunard liners, Lusitania and Mauretania,

on the North Atlantic run. They were one and a half times larger than the Cunard ships and were

designed to offer ultimate luxury in ocean travel, rather than compete in terms of the highest speed.


Board of Trade Surveyors letter, 5th Feb 1912


Olympic First Class Rates

Page 1


Page 2

Three Sisterships

Olympic and Titanic, Belfast, 2 March 1912

The Chairman of White Star Line, Bruce Ismay, needed to respond to the threat posed by the Cunard

Line’s fast, elegant liners, Lusitania and Mauretania.


In 1907, during an after‐dinner discussion with William Pirrie, Chairman of Harland & Wolff, the

concept of the Olympic‐class liners, Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, was born.

Titanic, Olympic and Britannic

At her launch in 1912, Titanic was the world’s largest ship. She was the second of three magnificent

liners, Olympic (1911), Titanic (1912) and Britannic (1914). All three were built by the White Star

Line to carry passengers across the Atlantic Ocean to America.

These sister ships were designed to be the largest and most luxurious liners in the world. However,

they had to compete with the Mauretania and Lusitania, smaller and faster express turbine liners

belonging to the Cunard Line.

As the first of the White Star trio, Olympic received a great deal of publicity at the time of her

launch. There was rather less interest in Titanic, even though at 46, 328 tons she was bigger than

Olympic. The last of the three ships, Britannic, was being fitting‐out in Belfast when the First World

War broke out in August 1914. She was completed as a hospital ship, but was sunk by a mine in

1916 and never entered commercial service.

Of these three great Belfast‐built ships, only Olympic operated as a successful White Star liner,

continuing in service until 1935.

Amazingly, one person endured near disastrous encounters with all three ships. Violet Jessop was

an ocean liner stewardess and nurse who survived the sinkings of both Titanic and Britannic. She was

also on board Olympic when it collided with HMS Hawke in 1911.

Titanic and Olympic Together

Titanic & Olympic, Belfast, 6 March 1912.

This photograph records a difficult operation to exchange the positions of the two ships on the high

tide. It shows Olympic (right) at the fitting‐out wharf temporarily vacated by Titanic, while Titanic

(left) is being manoeuvred into the adjacent Thomson Graving Dock. This dry dock, built by Belfast

Harbour Commissioners, was officially opened on Saturday 1 April 1911 and remained in use until

the late 1980s.

The Thompson Pump House, which stands beside the dry dock, housed three 1,000 horse power

pumping engines. They could drain all 23 million gallons of water from the full dock in about 100

minutes.


Britannic booklet

This is an example of the type of booklets used to promote the Sisterships, this booklet was used for the Britannic.

Drawing Office to Slipway

Harland & Wolff’s two ornately decorated drawing offices are at the heart of the company’s success

story. The detailed construction designs for Olympic, Titanic and Britannic were drawn up under the

high vaulted ceilings of these two well‐lit rooms.

Harland and Wolff Drawing Office 1912

Harland & Wolff Drawing Office, 1912

This photograph shows naval architects and draughtsmen working on ship designs in one of Harland

& Wolff’s two Drawing Offices, where the plans for Olympic, Titanic and Britannic were

prepared. Their high barrel ceilings and large windows made maximum use of natural light.


Preparing Titanic's slipway

Workmen preparing new slipways for building Olympic and Titanic. To accommodate the new liners, Olympic and Titanic, Harland & Wolff re‐engineered three existing

slipways into two larger ones that could accept the huge hulls. Their enormous weight meant the

slips had to be strengthened with reinforced concrete up to 4ft. 6in. thick. Titanic’s keel was laid in

Slip No. 3 on 31 March 1909, three months after work on her sister ship, Olympic, had started.

This 1907 photograph shows the early stages of construction and the filthy working conditions

endured by the workers. It also illustrates how this advanced industrial shipyard was still dependent

on hard physical labour and horse‐drawn carts.

The giant Arrol Gantry

Erecting the giant Arrol Gantry over the slipways for Olympic and Titanic


In 1908, an enormous steel gantry was erected over the two new slipways, Nos. 2 and 3, built for the

construction of Olympic and Titanic. At 840 feet long by 240 feet wide, and with a height of 228 feet

to the top of the upper crane, the new gantry could accommodate both ships.

It was equipped with a system of cranes and had four large electric lifts. Supplied by Sir William

Arrol & Co. of Glasgow, the completed structure weighed almost 6000 tons.

The Arrol Gantry at Harland & Wolff was a dominant sight on Belfast’s skyline for many years. It

remained in use until the 1960s.

Titanic's hull framed

Titanic and Olympic under construction, 1910.

The steel hulls of sister ships Titanic and Olympic are still wrapped in wooden staging but can be

easily identified by their proudly displayed notices.

When this photograph was taken in mid‐April 1910, Titanic (left) was fully framed and the hull shell

plating of Olympic had been completed. The frames in ships are like the ribs of the human body –

they give the ship its shape and outline. Once a ship has been fully framed, it is then ready for

plating.

Plating is a highly skilled process that involves carefully riveting metal plates, some weighing many

tonnes, into their precise place on the frame.


Plating Titanic's hull

Plating Titanic's hull, 1910.

This photograph, taken on 5 August 1910, is slightly out of focus but it shows that by this date the

shell plating of Titanic's hull (left) was well advanced. Olympic’s shell plating (right) had been

completed.

The wooden staging that clings to the sides of the ships allowed riveters and other shipyard men to

work on the hulls of the huge vessels. In the foreground there is a stockyard for steel hull plates.

An internal view of Titanic

A rare view of Titanic's internal construction, 1910. This exceptional photograph was taken around October 1910. It preserves the only internal view we

have of Titanic's hull under construction, enclosed by the lattice steelwork of the great overhead

gantry.


Men can be seen working on the steel beams and hatchways of the upper decks. Some of them

have stopped work to pose for the camera, adding a human dimension to this compelling industrial

image.

Fitting Titanic's tail shaft

In this remarkable photograph, taken in May 1911, shipyard men are fitting Titanic's starboard tail

shaft.

In a most dramatic way, this image contrasts the enormous scale of Titanic's huge steel hull with the

small human figures clambering over her.

Look closely beside the man on the right. There is a 'ghost' figure of a worker who has been deleted

by the photographer in order to improve the composition of this carefully posed scene.

Titanic's bow

Preparations are almost complete for the launch of Titanic on 31 May 1911. As this photograph shows, a grandstand for spectators was erected beneath Titanic's towering bow,

in preparation for the launch. Horses can be seen standing patiently in the shafts of their carts.

High on the deck a few shipyard workers look down from the great ship they have helped to build.

The name ‘Titanic’ has been enhanced by the photographer on his glass plate negative.


Titanic's engines

One of Titanic's steam engines in Harland & Wolff's Engine Works, May 1911. When she was launched, Titanic was the largest moving object built to date, so she needed some

impressive machinery to power her. That power came from a combination of two reciprocating

steam engines used to drive the port and starboard wing propellers, and a low‐pressure steam

turbine to drive the centre propeller. This was robust and proven technology, designed to deliver

reliable service rather than set speed records.

The completed engines were first assembled in the Engine Work's Erecting Shop. They were then

dismantled and the components taken to the fitting‐out wharf, where they were installed in Titanic’s

engine room.

Side view of Titanic's engines

Side view of both of Titanic's reciprocating steam engines in Harland & Wolff's Engine Works, May

1911. This photograph, taken in the Erecting Shop, shows Titanic’s two reciprocating steam engines

standing in line. Each engine was the size of a three storey house and could generate 30,000 horse

power.


When installed in the ship, they sat side by side, driving the port and starboard wing propellers.

Titanic’s arrangement of propelling machinery was designed to achieve fuel efficiency. Exhaust

steam from the reciprocating engines was further expanded through a low‐pressure turbine, and

this was used to drive the centre propeller. This system gave increased power without an increase in

coal consumption.

Titanic's fitting out progresses

Titanic fitting‐out at the deepwater wharf in late January 1912. By late January, 1912 the date of Titanic's maiden voyage had been officially announced as 10 April

1912, but much work on the ship remained to be completed. Although all four of Titanic’s funnels

are up, they have not yet been painted. Note the two gangways for boarding the ship.


Letter from Board of Trade Surveyors, Belfast, 1st February 1912


Launch of Titanic

On 31 May 1911, SS 401, Titanic, slid down Slipway No. 3 at the Queen’s Yard of Harland & Wolff

and settled on the waters of the Victoria Channel in Belfast Lough. In her brief life she would be the

largest vessel ever built.

Titanic Launch Ticket

Shipyard worker's ticket for the launch of Titanic, 31 May 1911.

This ticket was issued to Mr David Moneypenny, a Harland & Wolff painter who worked on Titanic's

first‐class accommodation. The creases in the ticket suggest it was folded and kept in his pocket.

Titanic ready for launch

Titanic ready for launching, 1911.

The unusual presence of women in the shipyard, the erected grandstand and the readiness of Titanic

all suggest that this photograph was taken shortly before her launch on 31 May 1911.


Titanic's pre-launch inspection

Lord Pirrie and Bruce Ismay inspecting Titanic just prior to her launch, 31 May 1911.

This photograph shows Lord Pirrie (left), Chairman of Harland & Wolff and Bruce Ismay (right),

Chairman and Managing Director of the White Star Line making a final inspection of Titanic on the

slipway.

The equipment on the left is a pressure gauge for the hydraulic launching triggers which held Titanic

in place on the slipway once the timber shores and blocks had been removed.

Titanic's launch rams

Hydraulic rams for launching Titanic, 1911.


The hydraulic launching rams were positioned at the head of the slipway, directly below the bows of

Titanic. Mr Charles Payne of Harland & Wolff was in charge of the hydraulic apparatus which started

Titanic's movement down the greased ways into the water, shortly after mid‐day on 31 May 1911.

At 12:05 PM, two rockets were fired, followed by a third at 12:10 PM. At 12:13, the 26,000 ton hull

started down the slipway under its own weight.

Titanic's stern

Final view of Titanic on No.3 slip just prior to her launch, timed for 12.15pm on 31 May 1911.

With the protective coffer dam removed, the high tide can be seen flooding the lower part of her

slipway, ready to receive Titanic. She was launched without her propellers, which were fitted later

in the dry dock.

Note that Titanic was not specially painted light grey to aid publicity photography, unlike her sister

ship Olympic, launched the previous year.

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.

Titanic launch sequence 2

Launch of Titanic, 31 May, 1911.

Within a minute Titanic reached a launch speed of 12½ knots. To enable her gigantic hull to slide

smoothly down the slipways, vast amounts of lubricants were used – 15 tons of tallow, 5 tons of

tallow and train oil mixed together with 3 tons of soft soap.

Heavy chains and anchors were used to stop the launch momentum of Titanic and she was pulled up

in less than half her own length.


Titanic's hull afloat

Titanic launched and afloat in Belfast Lough for the first time, 31 May 1911.

There was great relief in the shipyard when the launch was successfully completed. Within 62

seconds, Titanic changed from a land‐bound structure of steel, to a vessel floating in her natural

environment.

Without her engines, boilers, machinery, funnels, furnishings and fittings, Titanic is riding high in the

water. Within an hour she was towed to the deepwater fitting–out wharf for completion as an

ocean liner.

Design Drawing 1908

Original Harland & Wolff design drawing of Ship No.400, Olympic and her sister ship Titanic, Ship No.

401. This design for Olympic and Titanic was approved in Belfast on 29 July 1908 by Bruce Ismay and

other White Star directors. The drawing shows that Titanic incorporated a number of innovative

naval design features, including the division of the hull into a series of virtually watertight

compartments.

The drawing also shows the huge amount of space occupied by boilers and engines. The 'dummy'

fourth funnel is not connected to the coal‐fired boilers, but is positioned above the turbine room. Its

purpose was to enhance the prestige and beauty of the ship and it was also used for ventilation.

design & build - national museums northern ireland · 2019-03-14 · design & build by the...

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