Time to showcase shipbuilding history
I REFER to the letter Don't Throw Away Our Proud Past from Stephen Cameron (December 8).
Mr Cameron supports the building of this 'project' and what it can do for Belfast and Northern Ireland, but surely we should be showcasing the shipbuilding skills of the famous shipbuilders, Lewis, Wolff, Connell, Workman and Harland that were part and parcel of Belfast for years.
Titanic was only small fry compared to the many other ships built in Belfast. We only have to look around us or read old stories, to see the many ships built here by Harland and Wolff, like Canberra, Southern Cross, HMS Belfast, HMS Eagle, HMS Bulwark, Pretoria Castle or Bloemfontein Castle.
Belfast built these ships and many more - why can't we show these skills off? It is apparent that the Executive has not bothered to read up on the history of shipbuilding in Belfast. If they had, perhaps they would have invested more money into exploring how we can showcase this history.
All you hear nowadays is about Titanic and what it did. Have we forgotten the other two ships, Britannic and Olympic, that were built at the same time?
You only have to travel around the world, and you will find other museums dedicated to Titanic - why another one?
Belfast produced thousands of ships, both commercial and military, but we have nothing to show. What Belfast needs is a museum dedicated to the history of shipbuilding, not a 'museum' dedicated to a ship that sunk with the loss of over 1,000 people.
If we have to have a project dedicated to Titanic, why can't we build a replica Titanic? I know we haven't the skills any more, but surely we could re-train people.
We have the two famous cranes, which at times look out of place; surely we could give them a new lease of life.
We could build a 'Titanic' and put it in one of the slipways, the ship could include a museum, as well as a conventions centre and hotel, and it would probably cost a lot less than the amount quoted for the new project.
Ray Spence
Friends of Titanic
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 15 February 2012
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