Belfast Councillor Tina Black, Flax & Teal, and Jenna Crymble from Maritime Belfast Trust

Local company Flax & Teal is working with the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and local communities to develop interactive 3D/virtual reality rooms along Belfast’s Maritime Mile.

The virtual reality experience gives visitors a unique perspective on the Belfast waterfront area’s evolution by showcasing the stories of generations past through images, video, audio, and historic maps. 

Project Manatee is one of six prototypes funded by the £120,000 Belfast HUB-IN Challenge Fund which is being delivered by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office in partnership with the Maritime Belfast Trust to harness digital innovation to help animate and enrich the city’s Maritime Mile.

Through co-creation sessions, Flax & Teal has engaged with staff at PRONI to help develop the 3D virtual reality rooms.

Following a testing phase, QR codes will be placed along the Maritime Mile enabling visitors to scan them and access the virtual reality rooms.

Project partners and support

This project has been supported by a range of organisations, community groups and businesses along the Maritime Mile.

  • Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
  • Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office
  • Maritime Belfast Trust

More information

Find out more about the Belfast HUB-IN Challenge Fund at www.smartbelfast.city/story/belfast-hub-in-funding.

Find out more about Belfast’s Maritime Mile at www.maritime-mile.com.

The Belfast HUB-IN project is part of a €7.9 million European initiative that aims to transform historic urban areas through innovation and spread public benefits from urban regeneration. It’s funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 869429.

Daytime harbour and docklands Belfast

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Smart Belfast Urban Innovation Framework 2022 – 2026

The Smart Belfast Urban Innovation Framework aims to harness urban innovation to tackle Belfast's major economic, social and environmental challenges.

What is ‘Hello Maritime Mile’?

We're part of a pilot project that’s using technology to create an engaging and fun experience for visitors and residents exploring the Maritime Mile in the Belfast's Titanic Quarter.