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The occasion was marked by a wreath laying ceremony at the Titanic memorial in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.

Even though nearly a century has passed since the disaster, the families of those who died on board the Titanic are still affected by the tragedy, as Mike McKimm has been finding out.

Meanwhile, a $40 million takeover bid by an American company could mean that Titanic artefacts may be on show in Belfast during the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the iconic liner.

G Michael Harris, a Titanic enthusiast from Florida, who has dived to the wreck a number of times, hopes to buy out the present owners of RMC Titanic Inc.

The BBC understands that if the bid is successful, Mr Harris, one of the original founders of RMC Titanic Inc., would bring the travelling exhibition to Titanic's birthplace.

It would be the first time items from the wreck and parts of the ship itself would return to Belfast since the Titanic sailed all those years ago.

Mr Harris is understood to be keen that the ship's artefacts should be brought on a visit to Belfast and the ideal time would be 2012, the 100th anniversary of the ship sinking.

A successful bid would also mean the new owners would have all the salvage rights to Titanic and could recover further items from the wreck.

Mr Harris says its always been his desire to preserve Titanic for future generations.

He already runs the Orlando-based Titanic - The Experience which allows visitors to explore parts of the Titanic's interior faithfully recreated from the original plans and photographs.