Maritime Mile Heritage Lab Unveiled at European Heritage Open Days Weekend

As part of this weekend’s European Heritage Open Days Maritime Belfast Trust and Belfast City Council are bringing a fresh wave of technology and innovation to Belfast’s historic waterfront. The Maritime Mile Heritage Lab is set to offer an engaging mix of the city’s maritime heritage through cutting-edge tech, thanks to the support from the HUB-IN Challenge Fund.

Visitors can look forward to experiencing a number of pilot projects that blend heritage with high-tech experiences. Keep an eye out for QR codes at various key sites; scanning them will grant you free access to a suite of apps and interactive experiences that showcase Belfast’s rich maritime history in new and immersive ways. These experiences include augmented and virtual reality, as well as other AI-powered innovations.

Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive of Maritime Belfast Trust, highlighted “We are delighted to be launching the Maritime Mile Heritage Lab as part of EHOD 2024.  It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the maritime heritage of Belfast using technology and innovation. Showcasing a variety of pilot projects, from interactive 3D and VR rooms to augmented reality trails. These projects are designed to bring historical figures, artefacts, and events to life, enhancing the visitor experience along the Maritime Mile. Key sites such as Titanic Hotel Belfast, HMS Caroline, PRONI and St Joseph’s Church are featured in these innovative explorations. These will give local people and visitors even more reasons to visit the Maritime Mile and be part of our journey in developing and delivering an iconic waterfront for Belfast.”

The HUB-IN project, an EU-funded initiative, aims to bring new life into historic urban areas while preserving their cultural and environmental integrity. In Belfast, this means transforming the Maritime Mile into a vibrant, accessible destination for both tourists and locals, now and for future generations.

Chair of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Ryan Murphy said “The Belfast HUB-IN programme has encouraged local communities along the Maritime Mile to collaborate with businesses and organisations from our heritage and creative industries sectors to find innovative ways to enrich the visitor experience. Together, they have created six brand new projects that have added to the richness of the Maritime Mile experience.

“It’s great to see these pilot projects come to life and provide visitors with new ways to discover the stories of our shared waterfront.”

For more details on timings and locations visit maritime-mile.com