£1.5m Investment To Preserve Titanic Dry Dock

The Thompson Graving Dock, an iconic part of Northern Ireland’s industrial history and the largest authentic Titanic landmark in the world, is being given a new lease of life after 100 years.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood today announced a £1.5 million investment to preserve the historical site based at the Northern Ireland Science Park.

For over 100 years, the existing steel dock gate which measures 150ft at its widest point, 44ft deep and 887ft long has divided the dry dock from the sea. Due to its age, the working gate has been degrading over recent years and there is a real threat of future flooding which could see the historic treasure damaged along with the Dry Dock and Pump-House.

Work has begun to protect the 880-ft long Thompson Graving Dock. This is the largest single investment ever by DOE in support of a scheduled historic monument. The Thompson Dock is a key part of the historic infrastructure of the Belfast Shipyards, and is specially protected as a Historic Monument.

The work involves the construction of a permanent structure in the style of a gate, outside the original dock gate. When completed, this new gate will sit in the ‘Titanic slot’, an outer position in which the original gate would have been positioned to accommodate the sheer length of the Titanic.

A temporary coffer dam is being constructed to provide a dry working area around the original gate and Titanic slot, and to allow the construction of the permanent structure that will safeguard the dock. The work is being taken forward by the DOE’s Northern Ireland Environment Agency, which is funding the scheme, and the Northern Ireland Science Park, who currently maintain the dock.

Mr Attwood said: "The importance of the Thompson Graving Dock should be acknowledged; when it was completed in 1911 it was the largest dry dock in the world and without it the Titanic and its sister ships Olympic and Britannic, could not have been completed.

"This work is very timely given that the Titanic centenary is just a few months away and the opening of the Titanic signature project only a few weeks away. When the work is completed, the Thompson Graving Dock will complement other Titanic attractions and help to showcase Belfast’s industrial and maritime history. A lot of us who have visited the dock know of its scale and impact. It is a vital element in the Titanic experience and in itself conveys the achievement of the original build, the devastation of the loss of life and the engineering achievement of the ship designers and builders."

(CD/GK)