Thompson Outfitting Wharf and Graving Dock

Without the Arrol gantry and the Thompson Graving Dock, both the biggest in the world when they were constructed, neither Titanic nor her sister ships, Olympic and Britannic could have been built or fitted. The Harbour Commissioners decided to build the new graving dock in 1902, with no little encouragement from their fellow commissioner, William Pirrie, Harland and Wolff’s persuasive Chairman, who had a clear vision of the scale future ships would take. Work began in 1904 on the 880 ft long dock, whose walls were 18.5 ft thick and which had 332 massive keel-blocks of cast iron to support the weight of the great liners it would hold. At the same time a large outfitting wharf was constructed nearby and the surrounding water was dredged to a depth of 32 ft. Despite its size, the dock still had to be extended so its first ship, Olympic, could enter in April 1911.

It would be in the Thompson Outfitting Wharf and Graving Dock that the ships’ engines, boilers and superstructure would be added and work completed on their luxurious cabins and rooms. In October 1911, Titanic had to be moved from the dock to the wharf to allow repairs to be completed on Olympic, which had been involved in a collision. The delay pushed back the date of Titanic’s maiden voyage nearly three weeks. Had she sailed on time, it is very doubtful the world’s most famous ship would have encountered the fateful iceberg.

There is disabled access to the Pump-House available. Some of the ground surface can be uneven- please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. Male, female, disabled toilets & baby changing facilities provided on site. We also have a café which operates Monday-Friday in the Innovation Centre.