Titanic’s launch movement record

RMS Titanic, 1912, White Star Heritage Collection

This rare piece of history is a yard movement record, handwritten at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

It tracks the Titanic’s launch, her fitting-out movements between wharves, her time in the Thompson Graving Dock, and her departure from Belfast on 2 April 1912.

A transcription reads:

31st May 12 ½ noon – Launched and taken to New County Down Wharf

4th Oct 9 am – Shifted to Alexandra Wharf

13th Oct 1 pm – Shifted to New County Down Wharf 

2 Nov 7 am – 

21 Nov 9½ am – 

3 Feb 1912, 10 am – Docked in N.S. Dock

17 Feb 9:10 am – Stern clear of N.S. Dock New deep water quay

2 April 9:25 am – Titanic left the quay of works 29–10, 29–7, 31–11 in V.C. (Victoria Channel)

9:45 am – Vessel moving ahead, Wind W.S.W. small breeze

  • RMS Titanic
  • 1912
  • Artefact, Harland & Wolff, Paper Ephemera
  • Paper
  • 401.040