Titanic News: Titanic Exhibition At South Florida Science Center Draws Huge Numbers, International Ice Patrol Holds Titanic Memorial

South Florida Science Center & Aquarium Photo:Joe(Wikipedia)
South Florida Science Center & Aquarium
Photo:Joe(Wikipedia)

1. The Palm Beach Daily News reports that the recent Titanic:The Artifact Exhibition at South Florida Science and Aquarium was the most successful exhibition in its history. 61, 158 people attended the center during its run compared to 28,270 last year. Revenue from ticket sales during the exhibition’s run totaled $535,000. The exhibition itself cost $350,00 but was offset by grants and after expenses South Florida nets $500,000. “The exhibition drew a geographically wider audience than previous exhibits. We had a lot of visitors from out of town, and the second element was the Titanic exhibit’s appeal not only to kids but to adults and to seniors — a much wider age range than we’ve seen in the past,” said Matt Lorentzen, chairman of the governing body overseeing South Florida Science and Aquarium.
Source: ‘Titanic’ Called Most Successful Exhibit For Science Center(28 April 2014,Palm Beach Daily News)

International Ice Patrol Photo:U.S.Coast Guard
International Ice Patrol
Photo:U.S.Coast Guard

2. The International Ice Patrol had its annual memorial ceremony on 16 April to remember those who perished aboard RMS Titanic in 1912. One of the significant changes resulting from it was the creation of the International Ice Patrol to prevent such catastrophes from occurring again. And except for 2 world wars, the IIP has continuously operated and no loss of life has resulted from an iceberg collision in the areas it patrols. Data is collected via air reconnaissance and ship reports. Data is fed into into a computer at the IIP operations center to provide predicted iceberg locations for ships at sea. The U.S. Coast Guard administers the IIP under legislation enacted by Congress in 1936. The IIP Operations Center is in New London, Connecticut while the air reconnaissance aircraft operate out of Newfoundland.
Sources:
1. Ice Patrol Holds Titanic Ceremony(28 April 2014,The Day)
2. International Ice Patrol (U.S. Coast Guard)
3. International Ice Patrol (Wikipedia)

RMS Titanic Memorial, Ballarat Australia

RMS Titanic Memorial Bandstand in Ballarat,Australia (built 1915) Photo: Public Domain (Wikipedia)
RMS Titanic Memorial Bandstand in Ballarat,Australia (built 1915)
Photo: Public Domain (Wikipedia)


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Sunday Titanic News: Ballard is Honored, Titanic Tech To Help Missing Plane Search, And Titanic Wireless Operator Postcard Goes Up For Auction

Photo:Wikipedia
Photo:Wikipedia

1. Robert Ballard has been elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences according to University of Rhode Island(URI). Ballard is a oceanography professor at URI and founder of Ocean Exploration Trust. He is among 204 chosen in 2014 for American Academy. Induction ceremony will take place in October at the Cambridge, Mass., headquarters.
Source: Famed Ocean Explorer Ballard, Who Discovered Titanic Wreck, Elected Member Of American Academy(23 April 2014,Star Tribune)

Operators aboard ADF Ocean Shield move U.S. Navy’s Bluefin-21 into position for deployment, April 14, 2014, searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Photo:Public Domain (U.S. Navy ID 140414-N-OV358-036)
Operators aboard ADF Ocean Shield move U.S. Navy’s Bluefin-21 into position for deployment, April 14, 2014, searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Photo:Public Domain (U.S. Navy ID 140414-N-OV358-036)

2. Sky News reports that a sonar tracking system similar to what was used to locate Titanic may be used in the hunt for the missing Malaysian flight MH370. Bluefin 21, an autonomous underwater vehicle, has done 80% of the work so far but has a limitation of 4500 meters. So they plan to deploy a side-scan sonar device that will go deeper. The U.S. Navy Orion-towed search systems is available and offers real-time date unlike Bluefin 21. Also the REMUS 6000 autonomous underwater vehicle is being considered for use as well.
Source: Titanic Boost In Search For MH370(23 April 2014, Sky News)

Jack George Phillips, Titanic Wireless Operator Photo: Public Domain
Jack George Phillips, Titanic Wireless Operator
Photo: Public Domain

3. A postcard sent by Titanic wireless operator Jack Phillips will be auctioned off in the United States disappointing historians who want it brought back to England. The postcard, bearing the image of Titanic, was sent on 6 April 1914 to his sister Elsie reads: “Thanks very much for your letter. Having glorious weather, went to Cowes yesterday. Will write later before we sail.” Alison Pattison of the Godalming Museum says:”The story of Jack Phillips is one which gains a lot of interest locally and of course if money was no object we would be absolutely delighted to have it here in Godalming. However, we simply don’t have the budget for things like this, so purchases have to be made using grants, or more usually we receive items donated from collectors.”
Source: Titanic Hero’s Postcard ‘Should Be Returned To Godalming(25 April 2014,Get Surrey)


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Hart Letter Fetches £119,00 At Auction

gavelThe letter written by Titanic survivor Esther Hart was auctioned off today for £119,000 ($199,950) according to ITV. The letter was written aboard Titanic hours before the ship sank. The amount is a new record according to auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son. The previous record for a Titanic letter was £94,000 ($157,943).

Source: ‘Last’ Titanic Letter Sells For World-Record £119,000 At Auction(26 April 2014,ITV)


National Geographic Friday:Seconds From Disaster On Why Titanic Sank

One of the series I liked from National Geographic is their Seconds From Disaster series. They examine well known accidents using the latest in forensic technology to answer why the disaster occurred. They also did one for Titanic. Enjoy and share your thoughts on their examination in the comments section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdzymfVT9E


Titanic Engineers Memorial, Southampton

Titanic Engineers' Memorial, Southampton Photo:Prioryman(Wikipedia)
Titanic Engineers’ Memorial, Southampton
Photo:Prioryman(Wikipedia)

Inscription reads:

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN
THIS. THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS
LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

ST. JOHN 15TH CH. 13TH V

TO THE MEMORY OF THE ENGINEER OFFICERS
OF THE R.M.S “TITANIC” WHO SHOWED
THEIR HIGH CONCEPTION OF DUTY AND THEIR
HEROISM BY REMAINING AT THEIR POSTS
15TH APRIL 1912.
ERECTED BY THEIR FELLOW ENGINEERS AND FRIENDS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Titanic books

Raise The Titanic!

Duke of Lancaster beached near Mostyn, North Wales, UK (2010) Photo:Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK(via Wikipedia)
Duke of Lancaster beached near Mostyn, North Wales, UK (2010)
Photo:Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK(via Wikipedia)

Douglas Wooley, who claims to own Titanic, long has had plans to bring Titanic to Liverpool and partially restore it as tourist attraction. Now according News North Wales, he has found a ship to assist in this endeavor: TSS Duke of Lancaster. The Lancaster, built in 1956, has been beached near Mostyn, Wales since 1979. Originally built as passenger steamer for British Railways by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, it was converted to a car ferry in the 1960’s. In 1979 the ship was sold to Empirewise Ltd, who according to Wikipedia would use the ship as “static leisure centre and market.” It became known as the “Fun Ship” but later was used as a warehouse. Despite its weathered appearance apparently the inside is in good condition. Right now it sits awaiting either to be scrapped or possibly used as an open art gallery to display graffiti.

And now Wooley thinks this will be a fine ship to aid in bringing up Titanic. The ship’s co-owner John Rowley, doubts the plan and adds “I have no comment on the idea,” he said. “I would be amazed if Mr Woolley is able to keep a straight face through it all. I obviously do not share the same sense of humour as this budding salvage man, but each to their own.”

You have to admire Douglas. He has never given up on the idea of raising Titanic. He claims (and likely does own) the actual wreck. Even if he could put all the pieces together to bring up just a portion, it would run into all kinds of practical and legal obstacles. Clive Palmer’s project to build Titanic II has more probability of being done than raising a part of Titanic from its watery grave.

Sources:
1 My Dream To ‘Raise The Titanic Using Funship’(22 April 2014,News North Wales)
2.Is Douglas Woolley the Real Owner of the Titanic?(Dummies.com)
3. TSS Duke of Lancaster (1956) (Wikipedia)


Ship Captains: Go Down With The Ship or Not?

Does a ship captain have a legal obligation to go down with the ship? Well not quite reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Ship captains are required to assist in getting passengers safely off the vessel but no one actually requires a captain to go down with the ship. However ship captains usually face an inquiry as to what happened and can face criminal charges if they are found negligent. The captain of the Costa Concordia is on trial for manslaughter while the captain of the South Korean ferry faces negligence charges. Neither were the last to get off their sinking vessels.

Source: Are Captains Required To Go Down With Their Ships?(20 April 2014,Atlanta Journal Constitution)