New Titanic link to the past

The website contains a wealth of information about the ship

The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum says it has launched the most wide-ranging website ever dedicated to the Titanic and its place in Belfast's history.

The site is backed by the NI Tourist Board and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of virtual visitors.

Tim Cooke, chief executive of National Museums Northern Ireland, said the website had "unique content drawn from the rich and exclusive collections of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum".

"The website offers increased access to information through our extensive archives and will prove to be a valuable educational resource," he said.

"It combines the compelling story of the Titanic and its passengers with the story of the shipyard and the wider city.

"Visitors will be able to study blueprints and plans directly reproduced from the originals.

"They will also be able to learn more about the significance of the ship, the White Star Line and Belfast's role in the early 20th century global economy."

The Titanic was built at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast

People visiting the website can follow the Titanic story which begins with the ship's construction in Belfast.

They can also chart Titanic's voyage from the day it set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton in April 1912 bound for New York.

One thousand five hundred people died when the Belfast built ship sank after striking an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean a few days later.

It is also possible to listen to contemporary recordings and watch newsreel footage from the time, which lay undiscovered for almost a century.

Sue Ward, director of marketing at Northern Ireland Tourist Board, said: "NITB has identified Titanic as one of five signature projects which, if fully realised, will have a significant impact on local tourism performance.

"We also believe it will change visitor patterns on the island as a whole."

Michael McCaughan, head curator at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum said the website was proof of the continuing fascination for knowledge about the Titanic.

"Although 95 years have passed since the world's most famous luxury liner sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, there continues to be an endless demand for information regarding Titanic - whether it be facts, legends or myths," he said.

THe website can be found at www.titanicinbelfast.com.