06/06/2011

Hundreds Working As Titanic Gathers Pace

Titanic Belfast Work is well underway on the Titanic Belfast building - with a Ministerial visit having just added a further boost.

Located on the site of the city's former shipyards at Queen's Island, it is scheduled to open its doors to the public in April 2012, marking the centenary of the Titanic's ill-fated voyage.

This project will bring the story of RMS Titanic back home to Belfast, where she and her sister ships were designed and built. It will be a world-class visitor attraction and events venue and will also be a spectacular addition to the Belfast skyline.

Harcourt Construction NI Ltd is behind the construction of the huge building that will be twice the size of Belfast City Hall with construction taking three years overall to complete with 600 workers will be employed at the peak with 50 trucks of concrete were delivered in just one day in December 2009, making it Ireland's largest ever concrete pour.

Just last week, the NI Tourism Minister Arlene Foster visited Titanic Belfast to see first hand how the building is progressing.

Minister Foster said: "Titanic Belfast will be a unique visitor experience recounting the story of the famous ship through a range of different innovative materials and media. The building overlooks the slipways where the Titanic and her sister ships were originally launched.

"As well as offering cafes, galleries, community arts and education facilities, Titanic Belfast will house the city’s largest banqueting suite which is designed in the luxurious style First Class travellers would have experienced on board the fated ship.

"I have no doubt that it will become Belfast's must see attraction when it opens next April. We are planning a series of events to mark the opening next year to ensure that 2012 will be the year when we place Northern Ireland firmly on the tourist map," she said.

Titanic Belfast will be owned by a charitable trust known as the Titanic Foundation.

Chairman, Jonathan Hegan said: "We are greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm the Minister has shown in this impressive project which continues to make excellent progress."

Conal Harvey, Deputy Chairman of the attraction's operators, Titanic Belfast Ltd, said: "Titanic Belfast will ensure visitors to Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to hear and see at first hand the story of the world's most famous ships, and how Belfast was one of the most innovative cities of the Edwardian era. Likewise, the design and fit-out of the building will use a mix of new interactive technology rarely seen by the public before."

(BMcC/GK)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

06 July 2011
Titanic Project 'Won't Sink', Says Wilson
There won't be any 'disaster' on timetabling for construction of the £97m investment of 'Titanic Belfast' - especially important as it is destined to be one of Northern Ireland's top tourism attractions.
16 April 2015
Orientation Maps For EastSide And Titanic Quarter Unveiled
Two new visitor orientation maps for EastSide and Titanic Quarter that will guide visitors to the shared shipbuilding heritage of east Belfast have been unveiled. The plans were revealed by the East Belfast Partnership and Titanic Foundation Limited with support from Belfast City Council.
17 September 2015
New Titanic Exhibition Centre Opens
Belfast's new Titanic Exhibition Centre (TEC), sited opposite Titanic Studios in Titanic Quarter, opened today, 17 September, delivering a huge boost for local business in the process. The 6,000 square metre structure will be used as a potential venue for exhibitions, community and sporting events, as well as large-scale banquets.
26 May 2011
Construction At Titanic Belfast In Focus
Titanic Belfast have released a series of virtual images of what visitors can expect to see when the Titanic Quarter attraction opens next April.
06 December 2016
Belfast Needs To Develop Second Major Tourist Attraction
Belfast needs to develop a second major tourist attraction, Belfast Lord Major, Alderman Brian Kingston, has said following Titanic Belfast being named the World's Leading Tourist Attraction.