Dry-docked  

To accommodate the biggest ship in the world, H&W, in a timely move, had constructed the world's largest graving dock- The Thompson Dock.

We glimpsed something of the enormity of Titanic's hull as we photographed the dock's great length and depth.

Thompson Dock

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Blocks show where Titanic's keel rested-

Dry-docking Titanic was beset by setbacks.

Here, fate struck again. Within a month, Titanic had to be withdrawn from the dry-dock to permit it to be used for repair work to be done on... the Olympic!

During a Southampton departure (September 1911), the Olympic and a Royal Navy cruiser collided, seriously holing Olympic below the waterline. The Olympic's return to Belfast for repairs robbed Titanic of her workforce.

Does lightening strike twice in the same place? After Olympic's repair and work resumed on the now behind-schedule Titanic, history repeated itself!...

A propeller blade on the Olympic was lost at sea and she was forced to return again to H&W for urgent repair. However, this time the Olympic's loss appeared to be Titanic's gain. An apparent fault in Olympic's design had caused sea spray to enter open windows on the promenade 'A' deck so, on Titanic, these were now modified by the provision of sliding windows; another unique, distinctive feature for Titanic.

Nonetheless, Titanic was now seriously behind schedule.

Frantic (though efficient) activity proceeded but no way was she going to meet the secret March completion date. It was the final day of March before Titanic was ready for sea trials but was the sea ready for her?