Titanic Times - Issue 1

The official TiTanic BelfasT Newspaper issue 1 | february 2015

TiTanic BelfasT welcomes TWO-MILLIONTH vIsITOr!

Titanic belfast has welcomed its two-millionth visitor – just 32 months after the visitor attraction opened at the birthplace of the world’s most famous ship, belfast’s Titanic Quarter.

Michael sweeney, 25, a former st Malachy’s college pupil from North belfast became the latest milestone visitor when he booked tickets to the nine-gallery exhibition that tells the story of Titanic and belfast’s maritime history.

having welcomed its two-millionth visitor, Titanic belfast has once again exceeded visitor number expectations, with visitors coming from more than 145 countries.

Titanic belfast welcomes two-millionth visitor Michael sweeney from belfast, along with girlfriend Tainá Myra De castro from João pessoa, brazil, belfast lord Mayor Nichola Mallon and the visitor attraction’s ceo, Tim husbands Mbe.

TiTanic BelfasT reTaINs cOveTed fIve-sTar raTINg

Titanic Belfast has retained its five-star experience rating after being the first visitor attraction in Northern ireland to be rated as such last year.

The five-star accreditation was awarded by Northern ireland Tourist board and is designed to provide visitors with quality grading information on Northern ireland’s tourist attractions. It is reflective of the world-class hospitality training staff have under-taken, and their dedication and passion in telling the world about rMs Titanic and belfast’s proud maritime and ship-building heritage.

To achieve a star-rating, attractions are subject to checks from a mystery visitor and are assessed in up to six categories.

caroline adams, NiTb Quality & standards Manager said: “Titanic belfast has set the bar as high as it can go in terms of visitor numbers, quality, customer service and the visitor experience they are delivering. I encourage others to follow their five-star lead and make the Northern ireland tourism industry truly outstanding.”

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welcome…to the first issue of Titanic Times, the quarterly newsletter from Titanic belfast, keeping you up to date with news, events, Titanic trivia and promotions.

for more information visit titanicbelfast.com or join us on facebook and Twitter.

february is

at titanic belfast

14-17 feb 21-22 feb 28 feb - 1 mar

t i ta n i c b e l f a s t. c o m

TiTanic BelfasT on a WINNINg sTreakTitanic belfast is celebrating after scooping yet more top industry awards. The visitor attraction won the uK customer experience award ‘best New product/loving the customer’ accolade for its Discovery Tour, which was designed and developed by Titanic Belfast Visitor Experience staff.

The Discovery Tour is a one-hour Titanic walking tour that complements the visitor attraction’s interactive nine gallery experience. it takes the visitor on a journey through the concept and design of Titanic and Titanic belfast, and includes exclusive access to the historic Harland and Wolff Drawing Offices. The uK customer experience awards are

faTHer fraNk brOWNe exHIbITIONFrank Browne took his first photographs during a european tour in 1897 just before joining the Jesuits. These pictures convey something of the remarkable talent of a man who was to emerge as the most significant Irish photographer in the first half of the twentieth century.

in 1912 his Titanic photographs brought him international fame and by 1916 he was a ww1 chaplain to the irish Guards. In 1921 he took his final vows and, still suffering from war wounds, went to australia to recuperate and make a superb series of photographs of life in that country.

on his return to ireland he continued to record aspects of irish ways of life both personal and corporate which, when added to his pictures in south africa,

sri lanka, egypt, spain and england constitute a fascinating interpretation of a rapidly evolving world. During this time he made 41,500 negatives. he died in 1960 and his work was largely forgotten.

These pictures form the basis of this exhibition, which is on display in the andrews Gallery at Titanic belfast until the end of March. This is a free exhibition.

selected by a panel of judges from more than 100 industry practitioners. Discovery tour tickets are £7 for adults, £6 for students/seniors, £5 for children. These can also be booked as a combination ticket with the Titanic Galleries.

Titanic belfast has also scooped a major industry award in recognition of the unique visitor attraction’s complex facilities systems. The ireland region of the british institute of facilities Management (bifM) has now hailed Titanic belfast’s facilities Management staff as Team of the Year.

faMILIes deLve deeper INTO THe sTOry Of TITaNIcTitanic belfast has launched a new family Day including an explorer Trail that encourages families and children to discover more about the world’s most famous ship in a fun and challenging way.

The nine interactive galleries in the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction become a young detective’s trail on which they will answer questions and discover characters who help them earn a souvenir explorer’s certificate. Whilst the

whole family will enjoy the amazing Titanic belfast exhibition, the junior sleuths will also be happily engrossed in Titanic belfast’s explorer Trail.

The explorer Trail forms part of Titanic belfast’s ‘family Month’ which also includes a number of family fun events for Midterm break, Ni science festival and a family fun workshop weekend. Visit titanicbelfast.com for tickets and more information.

newWebsTOre LauNcHedTitanic belfast has launched a brand new web store offering a range of clothing, luxury goods, books, toys, DVDs and much more for that perfect gift! why not send a memento to your friends, or tell your family how they can get more souvenirs, even after they have left - we deliver anywhere in the world! Visit the new webstore today at www.titanicbelfastshop.com

ThrouGhouT february, receiVe 10% off purchases iN The TiTaNic sToreoffer ValiD oN preseNTaTioN of This Voucher. caNNoT be useD iN coNJuNcTioN wiTh oTher DiscouNT offers. No cash alTerNaTiVe.

10% DiscouNT iN sToreoNly


2 TiTanic Times The official TiTanic BelfasT newspaper

WHaT’s ON february

Keep up To DaTe wiTh all TiTaNic belfasT’s exciTiNG fuTure eVeNTs by siGNiNG up To our e-NewsleTTer aT TiTanicBelfasT.com or JoiN us oN facebOOk aND TWITTer


The official TiTanic BelfasT newspaper TiTanic Times 3

with this special family TickeT you will discover the 9 galleries of the Titanic experience, take part in our explorer Trail, picking up clues & meeting a few characters along the way, make and take home your own clayrazy model, arts, crafts and storytelling.

family TickeT (2ad, 2ch) £39addiTional child £7.25 Under 5s free

Join us to celebrate science of The sea. Meet some of our amazing marine life in riverwatch’s huge touchtank, explore seaweed with ulster wildlife’s amazing hand spa and join our crew for fun experiments and demonstrations.

free admission

my Granda’s piece Tin is a special guided living history experience which allows families to explore the Titanic Galleries and the lives of the youngest workers in the shipyard (with the opportunity for kids to dress up). Take off on your own apprenticeship journey!

family TickeT (2ad, 2ch) £39addiTional child £7.25 Under 5s free

Looking for an iconic wedding venue that offers stunning surroundings and unique hospitality, that will leave a lasting impression on your guests? Titanic belfast is the perfect choice for your special day. Join us to view our stunning selection of suites, suitable for your ceremony and wedding reception at our wedding showcase event. free admission

Join us for a special Valentine’s afternoon Tea in the opulent surroundings of the Titanic suite for a romantic celebration by the Grand staircase! enjoy handmade bakery and patisserie, live jazz music and stunning photo opportunities.

afTernoon Tea £25ppinclUdinG Glass of prosecco £30pp, inclUdinG Glass of heidseck monopole champaGne £35pp

an exhibition of images from father frank browne, one of the 20th century’s great photographers. renowned for his images of Titanic’s maiden voyage, this stunning exhibition is on display in the andrews Gallery at Titanic belfast. free admission

vaLeNTINe’safTerNOON Tea

faTHer fraNk brOWNeexHIbITION

WeddINgsHOWcaseeveNT

MId-TerM break

ni sciencefesTIvaL

faMILy WOrksHOps WeekeNd

UnTil31 Mar

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HIddeN geMs Of THeTITaNIc experIeNce

The Glassfloorsuzanne hardyVisitor experience Team leader

My favourite part of Titanic belfast is definitely the Glass Floor. As a guest you stand on the Glass floor and actually see the wreck of Titanic drift beneath your feet. The experience is completely unique to Titanic belfast and it is one of Dr. robert ballard’s, who led the team that discovered Titanic, favourite parts of the exhibition too!

every guest who comes and stands on the Glass floor and sees the shipwreck,

The Board of Trade inqUiry planGareth BowmanVisitor experience crew

My favourite feature of the exhibition is the board of Trade inquiry plan. when it was donated to Titanic belfast in 2012 it was described as ‘the holy grail of Titanic memorabilia.’ it was purchased for £220,000 making it the second most expensive Titanic artefact bought at auction.

The plan is a cross sectional view of Titanic drawn by Harland and Wolff draftsmen for the british board of Trade

inquiry in May 1912. The plan is drawn in graphic detail and was hand-captioned throughout in an attempt to assist the members of the inquiry in understanding the complexities of the ship.

for me the most interesting aspects of the plan are the blue and red drawings by edward wilding who, at the time, was a Naval Architect at Harland and Wolff. The marks he made show where he believed the ship had been punctured below the water line, and they make you realise that you are looking at a very special historical artefact, which is also relevant to modern international maritime practices.

whether adult or child, is absolutely blown away and truly touched by the experience. Many of our guests tell us how emotional they feel when they see how different the shipwreck looks now submerged under 2½ miles of water compared to how luxurious and new she looked when she set off on her Maiden voyage, so full of hope and excitement.

The Glass floor really helps our guests to understand the impact of the disaster and reminds them of the human cost and the sorrow that was felt at the time. as the Glass floor is one of the last galleries, the experience is something that our guests take away with them and remember for a long time.

There’s so much to see and do on the Titanic experience, we asked two of our key Visitor experience crew their favourite bits…



let us know your favourite bits of the Titanic

experience via facebook.com/titanicbelfast

for more information contact [email protected]

Titanic belfast is the perfect venue for your next event if you want a unique setting which will attract delegates and make a lasting impression.

from intimate mezzanines to exclusive use of the entire building, Titanic belfast is the perfect location for gala dinners, exhibition and conferences - catering from 50 to 1500 guests.

planning an evenT for 2015?make eVery eVenT special aT TiTanic BelfasT

cOMINg sOONTo TiTanic BelfasT

a heart-moving escorted tour through Titanic belfast and the historic slipways, marking the anniversary of the tragic sinking of rMs Titanic. for more information visit titanicbelfast.com

Treat your mother to a

sumptuous afternoon Tea

in front of the famous

Titanic staircase. with

handmade bakery and

patesserie, live jazz music

and stunning photo

opportunities, this is a

treat she will not forget.

To book tickets visit

titanicbelfast.com

Keep up To DaTe wiTh all TiTaNic belfasT’s exciTiNG fuTure eVeNTs by siGNiNG up To our e-NewsleTTer aT TiTanicBelfasT.com or JoiN us oN facebOOk aND TWITTer

15 March

MOTHer’s day

afTerNOON Tea

14 aprila NIgHT TO reMeMber

new ToUra TasTe of TiTaniccoMing spring 2015Major new exhiBiTion

…THey’re cOMINg

THIs suMMer!

?launching spring 2015, Titanic belfast’s new taste tour will take you on a culinary journey through the Titanic experience. full details coming to titanicbelfast.com soon!



let us know your favourite bits of the Titanic

experience via facebook.com/titanicbelfast

titanic fun

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wordsearchCan you find the names of all our Titanic characters?

aGGie, molly, BoB, Wolff, Belle, shaUn, capTain,

GUlliVer, William

14 15

7

5

1

10

4

8

32

9

16

6

13

11

17

15

12

crosswordUse the clues to fill in the words in our Titanic-themed crossword puzzle (answers at the bottom of the page).

white star mazeWolff is thirsty so help him find his way through the white star maze to reach his bowl!

who am i?h i worked on the cunard liner the Mauretania before coming to work on Titanic.

h i was recently engaged and considered skipping the Titanic voyage.

hover 30,000 people came to pay their respects to me at my funeral and my legacy is of great heroism displayed in my last few hours on board Titanic.

across 1. engineer and designer Tay and Forth bridges Thomas _ _ _ _ _ (5)

5. edward harland’s place of birth (11)

8. roV used in conjunction with roV Hercules (5)

9. youngest passenger on board Titanic and last living survivor

until her death in 2009 millVina _ _ _ _ (4)

10. provincial capital of Nova scotia, canada (7)

12. Vertical blade at the stern of a ship, used to change direction

when in motion (6)

13. exploration vessel helping to advance the frontiers of ocean

exploration (8)

14. owner of world’s largest tobacco factory at the turn of 20th

century, based in belfast Tom _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8)

16. The forward part of a ship’s hull (3)

17. assisted with the design of Titanic and brother-in-law to

william pirrie alexander _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8)

doWn 1. German battleship discovered by robert ballard in 1989 (8)

2. instrument played by Titanic band leader wallace hartley (6)

3. Second Officer on board Titanic charles _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (10)

4. Number of academy award nominations received by James

cameron’s ’Titanic’ in 1997 (8)

6. Titanic’s final departure point, now known as Cobh (10)

7. The palm court could be found here _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ café (9)

11. sister ship to Titanic and britannic (7)

15. Name given to the gantry under which Titanic was built (5)

colour in the captain and aggie the shipyard cat

crossworD across: 1. bouch 5. scarborough 8. argus 9. Dean 10. halifax 12. rudder 13. Nautilus 14. Gallaher 16. bow 17. carlisle down: 1. bismarck 2. Violin 3. lightoller 4. fourteen 6. Queenstown 7. Verandah 11. olympic 15. arrol TiTaNic aNaGraM: Thomas andrews who aM i?: wallace hartley

titanic anagram

tradesman show

Who am i?



TraNsfOrMaTIONOf HarLaNd & WOLff draWINg OffIces

The building which was home to Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices is the most significant and oldest structure remaining of belfast’s shipbuilding industry on Queen’s island, and was once the control centre for the largest shipyard in the world. built circa 1886, this b+ listed building was where men created, designed and built over 1000 ships including the white star olympic class liners - olympic, Titanic and britannic and naval warships such as hMs belfast.

Titanic foundation ltd and Titanic Quarter ltd are committed to preserving the Drawing Offices, and are working towards the restoration of the building into a boutique hotel, with support from the heritage lottery fund. The most historically important rooms such as the Drawing Offices and Board Room, will be developed as spaces for public use. The building will tell the story of belfast’s industrial heritage, focusing on the authentic spaces and fixtures and fittings that relate to the local shipbuilding industry. it is a tangible, authentic link to Harland & Wolff’s significant story of

innovation and evolution of ship-design, which started in Belfast and affected and influenced ship-building and related themes of migration, trade and tourism through the 19th and 20th centuries nationally and internationally.

The Drawing Offices are currently open every day for guided tours with Titanic belfast’s award winning Discovery Tour www.titanicbelfast.com and also for bespoke tours with Titanic walking Tours www.titanicwalk.com and Titanic Tours www.titanictours-belfast.co.uk.

Many of the documents from the Drawing Offices are now in the Harland & Wolff Archives in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), the National Museum of Northern ireland, in addition, documents can be viewed at the iconic world-class visitor attraction, Titanic belfast.

for all the latest information on up and coming events and developments follow us on twitter @drawingoffices and check out www.titanic-foundation.org

TITaNIc QuarTer eveNTs 2015

Nowhere else in the world can claim a greater or prouder association with the most famous ship ever built. so why not begin your very own voyage of discovery in Titanic Quarter (TQ).

check out our brand new facebook page facebook.com/tqeventsbelfast, find out about maritime and industrial heritage, our exciting programme of unique festivals, events, activities and entertainment. from the Gran fondo Giro d’italia, Tall ships festival, open heritage Days, belfast color run to Disney on ice, Titanic Taster Tours, xporT13 and of course not forgetting a visit to the Dock Market.

as a ‘fan’ of our page, you can also be the first to find out about exclusive offers, events, and also get updates about the latest happenings in TQ.

To Keep sailiNG, TiTaNic burNeD arouND 600 ToNs of coal eVery Day, creaTiNG oVer 3000 TiMes The eMissioNs of TiTaNic belfasT

T i T a n i c f a c T





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Titanic Times - Issue 1