Duncan Barrett

It's May the 31st, 1911. We're in Belfast, the heart of Britain's shipbuilding industry. To be specific, the north yard of Harland and Wolfe's vast 80-acre construction site. And for the tens of thousands of men who work here, it's a red-letter day. Up in the grandstands specially built for the occasion, a 74-year-old man takes his seat. He's an imposing figure.

It's May the 31st, 1911. We're in Belfast, the heart of Britain's shipbuilding industry. To be specific, the north yard of Harland and Wolfe's vast 80-acre construction site. And for the tens of thousands of men who work here, it's a red-letter day. Up in the grandstands specially built for the occasion, a 74-year-old man takes his seat. He's an imposing figure.

Six foot two with broad shoulders, piercing eyes, and a fearsome walrus moustache. Not to mention a bulbous purple nose, a kind generally attributed to excessive drinking. Not that anyone seated around this gentleman would dare suggest anything of the kind. Because he also happens to be one of the richest men in the world. John Pierpont Morgan, otherwise known as JP.

Six foot two with broad shoulders, piercing eyes, and a fearsome walrus moustache. Not to mention a bulbous purple nose, a kind generally attributed to excessive drinking. Not that anyone seated around this gentleman would dare suggest anything of the kind. Because he also happens to be one of the richest men in the world. John Pierpont Morgan, otherwise known as JP.

He's come to Belfast especially to get a good look at his latest investment. It's the biggest seagoing vessel ever built. In fact, the biggest movable object in history. And today it's about to move for the first time. A hundred thousand spectators are lining the banks of the River Lagen. All eyes are on slipway number three, where the magnificent new ship stands bolt upright, perfectly still.

He's come to Belfast especially to get a good look at his latest investment. It's the biggest seagoing vessel ever built. In fact, the biggest movable object in history. And today it's about to move for the first time. A hundred thousand spectators are lining the banks of the River Lagen. All eyes are on slipway number three, where the magnificent new ship stands bolt upright, perfectly still.

A giant black hull glimmering in the midday sun. To the Harland & Wolff shipwrights, she's known as SS 401. To everyone else, Titanic. Even without her four majestic funnels, those will be winched into place later, the new liner is an overwhelming sight. She towers 100 feet from top to bottom, and almost 900 feet long. Her rudder alone is the size of a cricket pitch.

A giant black hull glimmering in the midday sun. To the Harland & Wolff shipwrights, she's known as SS 401. To everyone else, Titanic. Even without her four majestic funnels, those will be winched into place later, the new liner is an overwhelming sight. She towers 100 feet from top to bottom, and almost 900 feet long. Her rudder alone is the size of a cricket pitch.

Those who weren't lucky enough to score an official invite have climbed onto the nearby rooftops to get a good view. Others have scaled the masts of the smaller ships bobbing in the lagoon, minnows to this hulking leviathan, all of them waiting with bated breath to see the giant ship move. At 12.05pm, a red flag is flown at Titanic's stern. The ten-minute countdown begins.

Those who weren't lucky enough to score an official invite have climbed onto the nearby rooftops to get a good view. Others have scaled the masts of the smaller ships bobbing in the lagoon, minnows to this hulking leviathan, all of them waiting with bated breath to see the giant ship move. At 12.05pm, a red flag is flown at Titanic's stern. The ten-minute countdown begins.

in titanic shadow a small army of men are hard at work ant-like they scurry back and forth getting everything ready the slipway has been coated with 21 tons of grease now burly shipwrights are getting ready to knock out the giant timber stays that hold the vessel in place a rocket fires signaling five minutes to go then another 60 seconds left now. This is a precision operation.

in titanic shadow a small army of men are hard at work ant-like they scurry back and forth getting everything ready the slipway has been coated with 21 tons of grease now burly shipwrights are getting ready to knock out the giant timber stays that hold the vessel in place a rocket fires signaling five minutes to go then another 60 seconds left now. This is a precision operation.

The Edwardian equivalent of a NASA launch at Cape Canaveral. Finally, the moment of truth. There's no champagne bottle smashing. Titanic's operators, White Star, don't believe in such archaic superstitions. Only the sound of hydraulic triggers firing. Everyone holds their breath. For a moment, it looks like she won't move after all.

The Edwardian equivalent of a NASA launch at Cape Canaveral. Finally, the moment of truth. There's no champagne bottle smashing. Titanic's operators, White Star, don't believe in such archaic superstitions. Only the sound of hydraulic triggers firing. Everyone holds their breath. For a moment, it looks like she won't move after all.

Freed from her wooden moorings, the giant ship stands stock still, a towering, immobile monument. Then, almost imperceptibly, she begins sliding towards the water, gradually picking up speed, 5, 10, 15 miles per hour. Finally, after the longest 62 seconds in history, Titanic floats freely for the first time.

Freed from her wooden moorings, the giant ship stands stock still, a towering, immobile monument. Then, almost imperceptibly, she begins sliding towards the water, gradually picking up speed, 5, 10, 15 miles per hour. Finally, after the longest 62 seconds in history, Titanic floats freely for the first time.

But while all eyes are on the ship in the Lagen, there is a crisis playing out 500 meters away at the top of the slipway. Under the giant gantry that until a minute ago housed the Titanic, 43-year-old shipwright James Dobbin lies seriously injured. He's been crushed under a heavy wooden support. His pelvis is shattered.

But while all eyes are on the ship in the Lagen, there is a crisis playing out 500 meters away at the top of the slipway. Under the giant gantry that until a minute ago housed the Titanic, 43-year-old shipwright James Dobbin lies seriously injured. He's been crushed under a heavy wooden support. His pelvis is shattered.

While James' wife Rachel watches the launch with their son Jimmy, enchanted by the sight of the great ship floating for the first time, His colleagues are hauling him out from under a heavy weight of timber. James is bundled into a Holland & Wolfe car and taken straight to the nearest infirmary. While J.P.

While James' wife Rachel watches the launch with their son Jimmy, enchanted by the sight of the great ship floating for the first time, His colleagues are hauling him out from under a heavy weight of timber. James is bundled into a Holland & Wolfe car and taken straight to the nearest infirmary. While J.P.