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Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Was Titanic really considered unsinkable BEFORE her maiden voyage? Newly-unearthed document from 1911 reveals the truth
Ever since it sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, RMS Titanic has been described as the ship that was meant to be 'unsinkable'. In fact, the 10-letter word has been cruelly synonymous with Titanic folklore since the vessel – owned and operated by British firm White Star Line – tragically foundered. A day after the disaster, The New York Times proclaimed on its front page: 'Manager of [White Star] Line Insisted Titanic Was Unsinkable Even After She Had Gone Down'. More than 80 years later, in her book 'Every Man for Himself', English writer Beryl Bainbridge referred to Titanic as the 'unsinkable vessel'. Meanwhile, in James Cameron 's 1997 film, the heroine's mother says just before she boards: 'So this is the ship they say is unsinkable?' But was Titanic really described as such before it set off from Southampton on its maiden voyage? Now, a little-known document dating to 1911 – a year before the disaster – has been unearthed. And it may finally reveal the truth, more than a century later. Back in 1999, Richard Howells, lecturer in communications studies at Leeds University, claimed Titanic was 'never publicised as being an unsinkable ship' before it set off on April 10, 1912. Howells said at the time: 'The population as a whole was unlikely to have thought of the Titanic as a unique, unsinkable ship before its maiden voyage.' He continued: 'Once the news of the disaster broke, however, it was an entirely different story – it was as though the Titanic had been universally hailed as unsinkable all along.' Similarly, Royal Museums Greenwich, an authority on maritime history, says on its website: 'Titanic was never actually described as 'unsinkable'.' Wikipedia also tells us: 'Contrary to popular mythology, Titanic was never described as "unsinkable" without qualification until after she sank.' In fact, multiple Google search results tell us that Titanic was not officially described as unsinkable prior to the voyage. But if we look at the historic document from 1911, we can see this is simply not true. A passage describes Titanic and its almost identical sister ship Olympic as follows: '...these two wonderful vessels are designed to be unsinkable'. Titanic: Basic facts Constructed by Belfast-based shipbuilders Harland and Wolff between 1909 and 1912, RMS Titanic was the largest ship afloat of her time. Owned and operated by the White Star Line, the passenger vessel set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 10, 1912. On April 14, Titanic struck an iceberg at around 23:40 local time, generating six narrow openings in the vessel's starboard hull. The ship sank two hours and 40 minutes later, at 2:20am on April 15. An estimated 1,517 people died. Of course, Titanic wasn't unsinkable at all – it tragically foundered just two hours and 40 minutes after hitting the iceberg, killing more than 1,500 souls on-board. But a belief that Titanic was unsinkable was probably widespread among the public prior to April 1912, despite what we're commonly told today. Joshua Allen Milford, a Titanic historian, thinks the public would have described both Olympic and the marginally larger Titanic as 'unsinkable' before their maiden voyages (in June 1911 and April 1912, respectively). 'When Olympic collided with the HMS Hawke [in September 1911] and didn't sink, the unsinkable theory was solidified for the upcoming Titanic,' he told MailOnline. 'Despite their size and amenities, it was one of the reasons why anticipations for Olympic and Titanic were so high and may have even boosted ticket sales.' Harland & Wolff, the company that built Titanic, took 'took great pride in their designs' and also referred to the two ships as 'practically unsinkable' early on, according to Milford. 'In turn, the trade journal 'The Shipbuilder' also used the term 'practically unsinkable',' he told MailOnline. 'All of this took place while the ships were in the early stages of construction and before either were launched from the slips.' According to Milford, the 1911 document describing the 'two wonderful vessels designed to be unsinkable' is likely from The Shipbuilder too. Other sources also described Titanic as unsinkable, including a report in June 1911 by the Irish News and Belfast Morning News. The report, covering the launching of Titanic's hull, described the system of watertight compartments and electronic watertight doors and concluded that Titanic was 'practically unsinkable'. Titanic's captain, Edward Smith, himself had also reinforced the idea that no modern passenger ship would be able to sink. In 1907, he said: 'I cannot imagine any condition which could cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster... modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.' So the claim that 'Titanic wasn't considered unsinkable before it sunk' has far less credence than we've been led to believe. Disaster in the Atlantic: How more than 1,500 lost their lives when the titanic sunk The RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. More than 1,500 people died when the ship, which was carrying 2,224 passengers and crew, sank under the command of Captain Edward Smith. Some of the wealthiest people in the world were on board, including property tycoon John Jacob Astor IV, great grandson of John Jacob Astor, founder of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim, heir to his family's mining business, also perished, along with Isidor Straus, the German-born co-owner of Macy's department store, along with his loyal wife Ida. The ship was the largest afloat at the time and was designed in such a way that it was meant to be 'unsinkable'. It had an on-board gym, libraries, swimming pool and several restaurants and luxury first class cabins. There were not enough lifeboats on board for all the passengers due to out-of-date maritime safety regulations. After leaving Southampton on April 10, 1912, Titanic called at Cherbourg in France and Queenstown in Ireland before heading to New York. On April 14, 1912, four days into the crossing, she hit an iceberg at 11:40pm ship's time. James Moody was on night watch when the collision happened and took the call from the watchman, asking him 'What do you see?' The man responded: 'Iceberg, dead ahead.' By 2.20am, with hundreds of people still on board, the ship plunged beneath the waves, taking many, including Moody, with it. Despite repeated distress calls being sent out and flares launched from the decks, the first rescue ship, the RMS Carpathia, arrived nearly two hours later, pulling more than 700 people from the water. It was not until 1985 that the wreck of the ship was discovered in two pieces on the ocean floor - a find that made the headlines globally.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wallace Hartley sheet music part of Manchester Titanic exhibition
Rare artefacts from the Titanic shipwreck including the sheet music from the ship's band leader Wallace Hartley who died in the sinking are to go on display in RMS Titanic sank in April 1912 after it struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York killing more than 1,500 Titanic Exhibition Manchester will open from 31 July to 24 August at Manchester will feature items such as the largest surviving fragment of the Aft Grand Staircase and the personal belongings of passengers and crew, including those from Mr Hartley, from Colne, Lancashire, who is said to have played on as the ship went down. The Titanic vessel, which was built by Liverpool-based White Star Line and was registered in Liverpool, sank within hours of hitting an iceberg and now lies 3,800m (12,500ft) down in the Atlantic remains one of the most famous shipwrecks in history that had its story turned into an Oscar-winning exhibition tells the story of the ship from its construction in Belfast, through to its maiden voyage and tragic sinking. It examines the legacy left behind, including its impact on film and Barton, the first British man to dive to the Titanic, is also attending the has done 22 dives to the wreck and is holding three lectures a day revealing new details about the site and what it's like to dive 2.5 miles (4km) to the Titanic. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Fragments survive of ocean liner 'Doric' which met its end in Newport
And that reminded us of this story we ran back in 2015 about the pub's interesting interior... She was a ship built to cross the high seas in style. Owned by White Star Line, of Titanic fame, the Doric sailed between Liverpool to Montreal carrying passengers in luxurious comfort. But 80 years after she met her end in a Newport breakers yard, parts of this ship from a bygone age still grace parts of the city. The smoking room in the liner Mauretania. Many of the rooms in the Doric would have been fitted out in similar style The Doric belongs to an age before the Atlantic could be crossed in hours. In the 1920s when she was built it would take at least a week. To persuade the passenger to part with their money, shipping lines had to make their liners as comfortable as possible. Their boast always had to be that their ships were the most well-appointed, in which the luxury of the surroundings would make even the roughest crossing a pleasure. As an architect who designed the interiors of great cruise ships of the time said, "we must make people forget they are at sea." The Doric was no different. The smoking room in the Doric, from the illustrated plans owned by ex-Cashmore's worker Tony Whitcombe Built in Belfast by Harland and Wolff in 1922, she could carry 2,300 passengers and depending on the price of their ticket in either luxury or comfort. A crew of 350 attended to their needs on the journey. While not a giant like her larger sisters, such as the Titanic, the twin-funnelled Doric shared her stately lines and wore the same colour scheme as the tragic liner. Her interior was every bit as swish as her stablemates. Dining rooms were clad in oak and mahogany, marble was used extensively. Mirrors were delicately engraved. Even ashtrays were silver-plated or made of brass and embossed delicately with the White Star flag emblem. The ship's maiden voyage on June 8, 1923, was from Liverpool to Montreal in Canada. She would sail the 2,385 miles in just under seven days at a steady 15 knots on this route she plied until 1932. From 1933 the Doric began a more leisurely career and was used for only cruising, based at Liverpool, she was one of ten White Star liners transferred to the newly-merged company Cunard White-Star. Her voyaging was to come to a premature end in September 1935 when she collided with the French ship Formigny off Cape Finisterre. Her passengers were rescued and emergency repairs at Vigo in northern Spain were made, but on her return to the UK she was declared "a constructive total loss" or as cars might be called today, "a write-off". It is then, as her fate had been decided, that Newport entered the scene. Cashmore's was a Newport firm whose name would have been known throughout the world as the place where ships came to die. A steel panel is hoisted from the Doric as she is broken up at Cashmore's Despite the thousands of hours of toil by riveters in fixing great sheets of steel together and carpenters fashioning stylish fittings - a ship's life would end by a cutting torch at a place like this. Newport was a natural place for a ship-breaker. Local historian, Jim Dyer says that the Usk, with its high tidal reach, meant the largest of ships could be sailed upstream. The yard's appetite was prodigious. Mr Dyer said: "They scrapped more than 1,000 ships, of all sizes, famous warships, ocean-going liners, paddle steamers, tugs and coasters were pulled apart the metal and accessories all sold and recycled." Sat on the banks of the River Usk between where the SDR and George Street bridges are today, the yard saw the end of liners like the fantastically-named Reina del Pacifico, the Empress of France and great battleships like HMS Collingwood and, of course, the Doric. Another chronicler of Newport's past was Jan Preece and he remembered how these leviathans would come up the river on their final journey: "When I lived on Raglan Street in Pill, you could see the great majestic shapes looming over the streets. You took it for granted, but at the same time it was so impressive." Cashmore's made its fortune from the scrap metal gleaned from these great ships; their fixings and fittings were small beer. The proceeds of the sale of furniture were often donated to local causes. The Doric's oak-panelling and engraved mirrors would go to keep the Royal Gwent in those pre-NHS days. Steve Williams landlord of the St Julians Inn in front of fittings from the liner "Doric" that was scrapped at Cashmore's in Newport Many houses in Pill would give a home to a sideboard, a lamp or a door salvaged from a ship broken up at Cashmore's, the Doric included. By 1937 more than 280 ships had been broken up but many more would lie alongside the river bank on the Usk mud and be slowly dismembered. It seems appropriate that further up the river the remains of one of Cashmore's most famous projects, the Doric, should be found. Steve Williams is landlord of the St Julians Inn and is one of Newport's longest-serving landlords. But some of the fittings in his pub overlooking Caerleon stretch back much longer than that. The walls of the lounge in the pub are clad with oak panelling saved from the Doric. 'The lounge was built on to the original part of the pub between the wars,' landlord Steve Williams says 'and they clad it with wood taken from the wardroom on the liner'. 'Some of the bell pushes used to summon a steward are still there,' he adds. He says it is a 'special feeling' that this part of the great ship remains. 'You can't preserve something as big as a liner, but it's good that pieces of it have been kept and are still used here. 'I have seen a picture of the original wardroom on the Doric where the panelling came from, and it's laid out exactly like the lounge here. It has the same cosy feel.' It should come as no surprise it looks so at home in a pub. When the architects were designing these palaces of the sea, they wanted to re-create the intimate feeling of a club or restaurant. 'Not many people are alive who would have seen the ship when it came into Newport,' Steve adds, 'so it's great that people can come and see a part of it here.' Overlooking the Usk as it bends round towards Caerleon, The St Julians Inn is named after the patron saint of boatmen who was renowned also for the help he gave to travellers. It's also fitting, then, that fragments of the Doric survive here where that great liner travelled her last.
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Vibrant waterfront gem in Cork is tailor-made for family adventures this summer
With its iconic harbour location, playful streetscapes, and deep-rooted ties to emigration and maritime history, Cobh is a shared experience waiting to happen. As families increasingly seek meaningful ways to connect across age groups, this forward-thinking town offers the perfect setting — combining rich history, stunning scenery, and activities that speak to young explorers and seasoned holiday makers alike. With direct rail, bus, and road links to Cork city and beyond, it's as easy to reach as it is to fall in love with. Whether you're a grandparent interested in tales of the Titanic, a parent seeking quality time exploring the outdoors and museums, or a family looking to create fun memories, Cobh is a destination where generations can connect. Visitors can step into history at Titanic Experience Cobh, housed in the original White Star Line ticket office, overlooking the pier from where the final 123 passengers boarded tenders that ferried to bring them to the ill-fated ship. It's a powerful and immersive visit that captures the imagination of all ages. Alternatively tourists can visit Cobh Heritage Centre to explore Ireland's rich emigration story. The centre brings to life the poignant journeys of those who left Ireland through Cobh — once known as Queenstown — for new lives in America, Australia, Canada and beyond. Exhibits explore everything from the Titanic and Lusitania, Annie Moore to convict ships and Irish diaspora history with a pictorial quiz and colouring station to keep younger children busy. Then, set sail for Spike Island, a short ferry ride from Cobh and one of Europe's most captivating heritage sites. Part fortress, part prison, part wide open spaces — its story is delivered with energy and humour by expert guides and fun exhibits, making even the weightiest history accessible to young minds and engaging for adults. Back on dry land, tourists can take time to explore the picturesque town. Stroll to the Titanic Memorial Garden, stride up the hill to snap a multigenerational photo in front of the colourful houses of the Deck of Cards, and feel the sense of awe as you gaze up at and explore the lofty St. Colman's Cathedral. With cafés and restaurants offering hearty lunches and irresistible ice creams, there's something to satisfy every appetite. While Cobh makes a perfect day trip, it truly comes into its own when you stay a little longer. With welcoming accommodation options like The Commodore Hotel, Bella Vista Hotel, WatersEdge Hotel, and a host of self-catering stays and B&Bs there's no need to rush away. Gems like Fota Wildlife Park, Fota House and Gardens and Barryscourt Castle are always firm favourites with kids and grandparents alike. For outdoor enthusiasts, Marlogue woods will have you scanning the trees for Red Squirrels, Cuskinny offers a chance to paddle and swim, while the Titanic Trail and Cobh Rebel Walking Tours deliver engaging accessible explorations of the town's layered past. Cobh has great waterside walks, a stunning waterside park in the town centre, a superb playground, self-drive boats and RIB tours for an exhilarating trip around the harbour and beyond! For the older family members, the Midleton Distillery Experience is close by and has one of the highest rated whiskey and distillery tours in Ireland. You can swing into golf at Cobh Golf Club or Fota Island Resort or learn the ropes together on a family sail course. On days when cruise liners dock in Cobh a carnival buzz takes over: locals in period costume, live music and a general sense of celebration will only enhance a visit to Cobh. Cobh's magic lies not just in its attractions, but in its atmosphere — a town with a big heart and a strong sense of community, where families can reconnect, slow down and savour time together. For attractions, travel tips, and accommodation options, visit
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Titanic reimagined: Stunning digital model reveals secrets of its final hours
Over a century after the Titanic sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic, we're still uncovering pieces of its story. And now, thanks to some jaw-dropping tech, we're closer than ever to understanding what really happened during those final, chaotic hours. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A new digital reconstruction built using over 700,000 underwater images has created the most detailed 3D model of the Titanic wreck to date. And trust us, it's changing everything we thought we knew. But first, let's rewind. A ship meant to be unsinkable The RMS Titanic wasn't just any ship. When it launched in April 1912, it was the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world. Stretching over 882 feet long and weighing more than 46,000 tons, the Titanic was the pride of the White Star Line and a floating symbol of early 20th-century innovation and opulence. She set sail from Southampton, England, on her maiden voyage to New York City on April 10, 1912, carrying more than 2,200 passengers and crew. Among them were some of the wealthiest people of the time, as well as hundreds of immigrants hoping for a better life in America. Tragically, they never made it. Four days into the voyage, just before midnight on April 14, the Titanic struck an iceberg. In less than three hours, the "unsinkable" ship slipped beneath the surface, taking more than 1,500 lives with it. The disaster became one of the most infamous maritime tragedies in history and its story continues to haunt and fascinate us to this day. A new look at an old tragedy Now, in 2025, a revolutionary 3D digital model has brought the Titanic back to life—virtually, at least. Created using deep-sea scans captured by submersible robots, this full-scale replica gives us an incredibly detailed look at the shipwreck as it rests on the ocean floor, nearly 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) below the surface. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What's so special about this model? Well, for starters, it reveals details we've never seen before. Unlike previous dives that only showed parts of the wreck, this is the first time we're seeing the entire site in such crisp, high-resolution clarity. Think of it as the difference between a blurry photo and a 4K video—you can spot every crack, tear, and dent. The real reason the Titanic sank? Tiny holes, big trouble One of the biggest revelations from the scan is just how the ship actually sank. For years, many believed that the iceberg tore a massive gash in the side of the Titanic. Turns out, the truth might be even more shocking. The digital model shows that the iceberg didn't rip a huge hole—it caused a series of small punctures, each only about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, across six of the ship's supposedly watertight compartments. While those holes might seem minor, together they overwhelmed the Titanic's safety systems. Basically, it was death by a thousand cuts. Engineers who fought to the end The model also confirms something long rumored: some of the ship's boilers kept running as it sank. An open steam valve found on the wreck suggests that Titanic's engineers continued pumping steam into the ship's electrical systems—even as water poured in. Why? To keep the lights on. It's believed these crew members stayed at their posts to buy time for others to escape, helping passengers find their way to lifeboats in the dark early hours of the morning. Their bravery likely saved many lives. A violent break, not a clean split Remember in the movies when the Titanic breaks in half in one dramatic moment? That part wasn't far off—but it was messier than we thought. The scan reveals that the ship's stern was completely mangled as it twisted and spiraled to the ocean floor, landing over 600 meters from the bow. This violent break caused more destruction than previously believed and helps explain the chaotic wreck site that divers have explored for decades.
