Titanic ready for launch. RMS Titanic was built between 31 March 1909 and 31 May 1911 for the White Star Line at the Harland and Wolff docks in Belfast, UK. It had three propellers, one either side and one at the back. The side propellers were cast from bronze, weighed 38 tons, and were over 7 metres in diameter. The largest ocean liner ever built at the time, Titanic was reputed to be unsinkable. However, during its maiden voyage it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on the night of 14 April 1912 and sank with the loss of 1517 lives. This Bain News Service photograph, is from the day of the launch, 31 May 1911.