The charity responsible for promoting and preserving Belfast's maritime heritage, Titanic Foundation Ltd, has been renamed Maritime Belfast Trust.
Titanic Foundation was originally set up to deliver the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction. Its other achievements include the restoration of the former Harland and Wolff Drawing Offices, which are now the location of Titanic Hotel Belfast, the acquisition of the SS Nomadic and the relocation of The Great Light.
"A Very Exciting Time"
In a statement published on Tourism NI's website, Maritime Belfast Trust chief executive Kerrie Sweeney stated, "This is a very exciting time in our history as Titanic Foundation Ltd becomes known as Maritime Belfast Trust. Over the past ten years, it has been a privilege to work alongside our strategic partners, funders as well as the many local communities and volunteers as we delivered a range of significant projects that have helped to shape, transform and make accessible our amazing waterfront and maritime assets. We are very much looking forward to continuing to work with everyone as we look to the future to deliver, promote and protect Belfast's magnificent maritime heritage, especially within the city's COVID-19 recovery plans, and ensure that Belfast's historic waterfront plays an integral part of the Belfast experience - a destination that is alive with people and where businesses thrive."
"Opportunity To Expand"
Chair of Maritime Belfast Trust Marie Therese McGivern added, "Maritime Belfast Trust will provide us with the opportunity to expand our charitable purposes to allow us to support Belfast Harbour and other key stakeholders to deliver a vibrant, historic waterfront destination through the advancement of heritage, culture, arts, events and community development. Our commitment to our heritage assets, Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic and The Great Light, remains unaltered and will very much play a vital role as we continue to deliver maritime heritage projects for the city."
"A Vital Role"
Meanwhile, Belfast Harbour chief executive Joe O'Neill commented, "Creating an iconic waterfront for the city is one of Belfast Harbour's key strategic goals. Our strategic partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust plays a vital role in helping us to deliver this ambition and protect our maritime heritage. We have worked collaboratively with Titanic Foundation since its inception, and as it evolves into Maritime Belfast Trust, we welcome the opportunity for increased partnership working. Our shared vision for development of the Maritime Mile, a walking trail which connects landmarks on both sides of our waterfront, is already attracting new visitors and helping to engage all generations in our rich maritime heritage. With the support of Maritime Belfast Trust, we are confident that our ambitious plans and ongoing investments will continue to develop an iconic waterfront area in which people want to work, live, invest and relax."
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