Hundreds wave farewell to QE2
THE warm welcome that the iconic liner QE2 received in Belfast, as part of her farewell tour, continued a generations-old association between Queen's Island and the great ships of maritime history.
An invited audience of nearly 1,000 people flocked to the Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) on Saturday to take a last view of the great ship, when it tied up at Stormont Dock.
According to the NISP who helped redevelop the Titanic's Dock and Pump House when the QE2 drew up to Stormont Dock, she was just yards away from where RMS Titanic received its final fit-out, and it brought together the names of the world's most famous vessel with the most famous ship presently in service.
NISP director of corporate real estate and facilities, Mervyn Watley, said there had been tremendous excitement over the arrival of the latest in a long line of great liners and capital ships to dock in Belfast:
"The Canberra, HMS Belfast, Southern Cross and Sea Quest oil exploration rig remain household names – and now they are joined by the QE2.
"The huge interest we have received forced us to limit access to the Science Park to pass holders only.
"In terms of innovation and engineering, Titanic's dock has been described as the Cape Canaveral of its time. Titanic, like QE2, was the technological marvel of its era, an example of what the combination of capital, entrepreneurship and innovative thinking can achieve – and a testimony to what can be achieved by champions of engineering."
Over 800ft long and with a displacement of 53,000 tonnes, Titanic was the largest and most opulent liner of its time. The QE2 is larger still at nearly 1,000ft long and displacing 70,000 tonnes.
Mr Watley added: "There is great pride in Northern Ireland's industrial heritage, and particularly in the Titanic which has such close connections with NISP's site on Queen's Island.
"The QE2's visit was another great chapter in the story of maritime history in this area."
The refurbished Titanic's Dock and Pump House now contains an all-new interpretative exhibition and large cafe facilities.
Tours are available and further information on Titanic's Dock and Pump House can be found at www.titanicsdock.co.uk and by calling Gillian Kelly on 028 90737813.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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