Alexandra Graving Dock

The expansion of Harland and Wolff in the last quarter of the 19th century increased constant pressure to update facilities. As a result the company petitioned the Harbour Commissioners for additional fitting out facilities in 1881. A site at the north end of Queen’s Island was chosen and in 1885, Princess Alexandra, after whom the new dock was named, cut the first sod. The dock opened four years later. However, even it would soon prove too small for the huge scale of ship that William Pirrie envisaged for the future.