The Building of RMS Titanic

Her keel was laid down on March 31, 1909, just 14 weeks after Olympic. The first plans were drafted in 1908, which had the three sisters Olympic, Titanic, and Gigantic all 850 foot twin screw three stacked leviathans. However, the White Star Line wasn't going to be outstacked by its main rival, the British Cunard, Germany's Hamburg Amerika, and Norddeutcher Lloyd. The plan was soon changed to 3 4-stackers, each triple screw, and at least 882 feet, 5 inches long. Each ship would be progressively larger than the last. Titanic was launched with much fanfare on May 31st, 1911. Among the attendees were Joseph Bruce Ismay, director of the White Star Line and president of the International Mercantile Marine, White Star's parent company. There was also William James Pirrie, head of Harland and Wolff Shipyards where these leviathans were being built, and Junius Pierpont Morgan, head of the International Mercantile Marine and the richest person on Earth. Not only was it the launch of Titanic that made it such a celebrated day, but it was also Lord and Lady Pirrie's birthday, as well as the handing over of the fitted out Olympic to White Star.

. With the Olympic completed and maiden voyage done as of June19th, 1911, White Star would be having a problem with how to create publicity for this ship, at the time, identical to the Olympic almost in every way. Flipping though notes taken on Olympic's maiden voyage, White Star with Harland and Wolff came up with some modifications. Olympic's beds were too springy, the ships vibration could be felt through them and kept passengers awake. Lath bottoms would correct that. There were no cigarette holders in the rest rooms. Put in some, silver ones would work. Move the radio room from the port side of the Officers' deckhouse on the Boat Deck to amidships. The wheel house was enlarged, a potato peeler added in the joint first and second class galley. The Reception Room for first class was more popular than anticipated, so the one on Saloon Deck "D" next to the Dining Saloon was enlarged, while another reception room was added on Bridge Deck "B," right next to the À la Carte Restaurant, which was larger on Titanic than Olympic. Three promenades on board seemed too many, get rid of the one on Bridge Deck "B" to make a Café Parisien, some private verandahs, and larger suites with servant quarters. Make some more private bathrooms, and make the portholes on Shelter Deck "C" smaller where there were bathrooms. The new, larger Officers' deckhouse on Boat Deck provided more space. That could be used to make more First Class cabins. Due to Olympic's many mishaps during the sister's earlier years, the Titanic had her maiden voyage postponed. Originally planned for March 20th, 1912, it was pushed to April 10th of that year. By that time, White Star was already rushing. The fixtures, the paneling, staircases, domes, some even say that there wasn't enough time to put in the clock for the piece "Honour and Glory Crowning Time" in the forward staircase and a mirror was put to good use instead. Her sea trials were rather brief, only one day, because she was expected to behave rather much like the Olympic. By the time Titanic left Belfast, they were running behind. No time to stop and chat at Liverpool, where White Star offices were located, it was sent directly to Southampton.

When the Titanic was launched on 31. May 1911, 23 tons of tallow, oil and soft soap were used to grease her progress down the slipway. The launch took place at midday and took only 62 seconds.

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