By Safira Ali

Last updated at 13:59, Wednesday, 01 April 2009

A model of the Titanic made its maiden voyage in Maryport this week.

Cliff Ismay with the model

The model is part of an exhibition by the Maritime Heritage Group looking at the iconic ship and its history.

The replica, which is the only working steam model of the Titanic in the world, is 60 inches long and 21 inches tall. Exhibition organisers took the ship to Maryport harbour this week for its first voyage in the water.

Cliff Ismay, from Moorclose, Workington, is part of the Maryport Maritime Heritage Group, which helped organise the event at the Lifeboat Inn.

Mr Ismay is also the great, great nephew of Thomas Henry Ismay, founder of the White Star Line – the company that built the Titanic – who spent his childhood in Maryport before later moving to Liverpool.

Mr Ismay said of Maryport: “The town is at the roots of the Titanic story. This is where Thomas Henry Ismay was born and where he spent his childhood. It is also where he started his seafaring career.”

The model ship was built by Tony Johnson, from North Yorkshire. He contacted Howard Nelson, from the Titanic Heritage Trust, who is a good friend of Mr Ismay’s, and suggested Maryport should exhibit it first. Mr Ismay said: “This was the very first public display of the ship. It is a very good likeness of the Titanic, especially when the steam comes out of it.”

Yesterday was the centenary of the beginning of construction of the Titanic. Organisers of the exhibition illuminated the ship’s lights for the first time to mark the 100-year anniversary.

Mr Ismay is trying to save Maryport’s Maritime Museum from closure. He said: “Through this exhibition we were trying to make people aware of its connection to the Titanic.”

Local people had taken such a keen interest in the exhibition that organisers had to open for an extra two hours on the first day because of the number of visitors they had. More turned up before opening time the following day. On Sunday and Monday they had about 330 people through the doors.

Mr Ismay said locals even came to the exhibition with their own artefacts asking organisers to exhibit them too. He said: “People are proud of their heritage.”

The exhibition included general maritime items, artefacts from James Cameron’s Titanic film and items donated by locals.

First published at 11:33, Wednesday, 01 April 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk