Titanic Dry Dock and Pump House

This past weekend we got to see the birthplace of the Titanic.

The Titanic was brought to the Thompson Graving Dock and Pump House to check the part of the ship that is usually under water. This is consider the Titanic's footprint. At the time of its construction The Thompson Dock was the biggest Dry Dock in the world. The Dock was left dry and then would be flooded and the gate opened when the next ship would be hauled in and then the gate replaced and the dock would pump water in until the ship rested on the keel blocks down the center of the dock floor. You can't truly grasp how big a feat this was until actually standing next to it. It was a massive undertaking. me from an old naval term to ‘grave’ or clean a ship’s bottom by burning off attached debris anthn retarring. A graving dock is also the only dock within a shipyard that has stepped ss

The kids standing next to the dry dock.

One of the keel blocks.

The Thompson Dock is essentially Titanic’s footprint.. ‘Graving’ docks to check the part of a ship that is usually under water. The name Graving Dock is an old one and originates back in the mists of time. It is thought it might have come from an old naval term to ‘grave’ or clean a ship’s bottom by burning off attached debris and then retarring. A graving dock is also the only dock within a shipyard that has stepped sides (called Arches or Alter Courses).