Olympic : repairs in Belfast, March 1912

[Manon Caillard]

Hello everyone,

I am doing researches regarding the first week of March 1912. The Olympic arrived in Belfast on the evening of the 1st of March because she lost a propeller blade one week before, on February 24th 1912 and needed repairs. At the same time, the Titanic was still being outfitted at H&W. The two ships were photographed together multiple times (very famous photographs). This was the last time the two sister-ships ever were together.

I recall having read things about that week in Belfast but I cannot remember my sources. Could you please help me to distinguish between the true and the false ?

• The repairs on the Olympic were finished by March 3. The Olympic tried to leave the Dry Dock the day after (March 4) but couldn’t because of windy weather. A decision was taken, to wait for the weather to improve. Eventually, the Olympic was able to leave the Thompson Dry Dock on March 6. I do not have any informations on the 5th of March. Do you know if the Olympic make an attempt to leave the Thompson Dry Dock on March 5 ?

• As I said before, there were really strong gusts of wind on March 4. During her attempt to leave the Dry Dock, the Olympic reportedly moved towards the West Twin Island, despite the tugs and moorings which were trying to control her. One of her moorings broke. This site says the broken mooring can be seen lying on the floor, on the picture below.

Do you think the mooring in question is the one I underlined in red ?

• I also recall that a local Newspaper said the Olympic stayed at Belfast a week instead of just a few days because, during her attempt to leave the Dry Dock on the 4th of March, she striked the channel bottom and did new damage to her propellers (or hull, I do not exactly remember). Do you know which Newspaper told that story ? Is this story true ?

I know this is a lot of questions, but I do not want to write things that come from my memory and that I cannot verify.

Any help is very much appreciated !

Thank you for your time !


Best Regards,

Manon

 

[Thomas Krom]

Good day to you,


The Olympic reached Belfast on the 1st of March 1912 and departed from Belfast on the 7th of March 1912. There were indeed slight problems due the weather after the Olympic was undocked from the Thompson graving dock. The tugboats were not quite able to handle the Olympic satisfactorily in the channel due the strong winds. It was advised, to make sure that no problems were caused, that the Olympic was placed back into the Thompson Graving dock, since there was no other berth that could accommodate her. However the Olympic remained undamaged and left for Southampton as soon as the weather became more tame.

It is false however that the Olympic touched a sandbank when she got out of the channel.


I hope this answers a few of your questions.


Yours sincerely,


Thomas

 

[Manon Caillard]

Thank you Thomas !
Yes you answered some of my questions

Best regards,


Manon

 

[Manon Caillard]

This site

I actually forgot to link the site in question : link to the site

 

[Mike Spooner]

Good day to you,


The Olympic reached Belfast on the 1st of March 1912 and departed from Belfast on the 7th of March 1912. There were indeed slight problems due the weather after the Olympic was undocked from the Thompson graving dock. The tugboats were not quite able to handle the Olympic satisfactorily in the channel due the strong winds. It was advised, to make sure that no problems were caused, that the Olympic was placed back into the Thompson Graving dock, since there was no other berth that could accommodate her. However the Olympic remained undamaged and left for Southampton as soon as the weather became more tame.

It is false however that the Olympic touched a sandbank when she got out of the channel.


I hope this answers a few of your questions.


Yours sincerely,


Thomas

Hi Thomas,
When Olympic was return back to the Thompson dry dock do you know if the water was removed?

 

[Thomas Krom]

It remained filled with water until it was needed for another vessel. It would cost resources to dry the dock again with the pumps located inside the pump house.

 

[Manon Caillard]

Hi everyone,

Do you know on what day the Olympic arrived at Southampton ?
And does somebody have the answer regarding the broken mooring lying on the ground ? (see post #1)

Thank you !
Greetings,

Manon

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Do you know on what day the Olympic arrived at Southampton ?

March 8, 1912.

And does somebody have the answer regarding the broken mooring lying on the ground ? (see post #1)

It's not broken.

 

[Manon Caillard]

Thank you Ioannis !

My question was not clear... I was asking about the arriving at Southampton before the Olympic got to Belfast on March 1.

 

[Mike Spooner]

Does any body know how much it cost per day to use the Thompson dry dock?

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

My question was not clear... I was asking about the arriving at Southampton before the Olympic got to Belfast on March 1.

She arrived on February 28, 1912. If my memory is right she left the same day for Belfast.

 

[Manon Caillard]

Thank you