Belfast, Southampton preparing for 2012 commemorations

It is nearly 100 years since the great ship cast off her lines and steamed into history. Two cities with strong ties to the R.M.S. Titanic - Belfast, Northern Ireland and Southampton, England - are make preparations now for the 100th anniversary of the ship's ill-fated maiden voyage.

Thousands of Titanic aficianados already flock to Ocean Dock (Southampton) and the Harland & Wolff Shipyard (Belfast) each year to see, respectively, the dock from which Titanic sailed and the plot of land on which she was built.

Among the plans for 2012 are a Titanic square near Southampton dock that commemorates the ship and her times.