Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) is based on Queen's Island in Belfast, once one of the busiest and most famous shipbuilding areas of the world. Throughout the twentieth century Harland & Wolff was associated with many of the liners, other capital ships and sea-going entities that ploughed the oceans of the world. The Canberra, HMS Belfast, Southern Cross and Sea Quest oil exploration rig were household names.

No liner, however, is better known throughout the globe nor has evoked more emotion and interest than the RMS Titanic. Launched in 1912, she perished on her maiden voyage the same year following a collision with an iceberg off the coast of Labrador.

In celebration of her creation and in memorial of her death, this region of Belfast is to be known as the Titanic Quarter and will be subject to a substantial yet sympathetic development for the Belfast of the 21st century.

Trailblazing development for the area, the Science Park contains within its land holdings of 25 acres the Thompson Dock and Pump-house. These structures represent a tangible link with the early 20th century tragedy and are protected under Heritage legislation. They also represent an antecedent investment by the City, State and businessmen which enabled the subsequent employment of thousands of men and women and much of the wealth of Northern Ireland up to the 1960s.

NISP's own mission echoes that of the Thompson Dock complex as it seeks to create a sustainable plan which will serve, simultaneously and effectively, the needs of the Science Park and of tourism while respecting the constraints of heritage.

The Dock and Pump-House are the precursor to the evolving strategic plan for Belfast's Titanic Signature project. Visitors may now enjoy unprecedented access to the Dock edges and (as an optional extra) a guided tour. Meanwhile, NISP continues to use all resources available to it to preserve as many options as possible until the project plans are finalised. NISP is guided by a recent Central Procurement Directorate report which stated that while the Thompson Dock, gate and Pump-House are in good condition for their age, remedial works and substantial expenditure are required in the near future. This report forms an action plan of work which can be done affordably and safely and is currently being executed.