Tag Archives: SS United States

Friday Titanic News (14 March 2025)

“MSN,” Scientists Finally Found the Ship That Warned the Titanic About the Massive Iceberg Ahead, last modified March 7, 2025,

The only picture of the Marconi radio room onboard the Titanic. Harold Bride is seated at his station. Photo was taken by Father Francis Browne, SJ, while aboard Titanic.
Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Throughout the day, the ship’s wireless radio operators kept buzzing with iceberg warnings. One of these ships was the SS Mesaba. But the warning never reached the control center. Six years after the Titanic tragedy, the British merchant steamship SS Mesaba was blasted by a German submarine’s torpedo during World War I, killing 20 people on board. Mesaba, like Titanic, was built in Belfast. On September 1, 1918, while it was making a convoy voyage from Liverpool to Philadelphia, as per Coflein, a German boat hurtled a torpedo at it. While scientists were aware that the wreck of Mesaba existed, they were unsure of where exactly it sank.

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“Woman Who Survived the Titanic Had to Answer for Her Actions During the Tragedy,” MSN, last modified March 4, 2025,

The slideshow concerns Lady Duff Gordon. Worth a look if nothing else for the pictures.

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Annabel Stock, “Sussex Author’s New Book on the Titanic’s Captain and a Murdered Spy,” The Argus, March 2, 2025,

Titanic Captain Edward J Smith, 1911
Author unknown. Published after sinking in 1912
Public Domain/Wikipedia Commons

Titanic Legacy: The Captain, The Daughter and The Spy, by Telscombe Cliffs author Dan Parkes, tells the untold story of Edward John Smith, the captain lost during the Titanic disaster, and his only daughter Helen Melville who married a wealthy stockbroker, Sidney Russell Cooke. Spying on Russians in England during the early 1920s, Sidney was working for MI5. After his cover was blown, he was discovered mysteriously shot through the stomach in his apartment in London in July 1930. “When I started to delve into it, I discovered that firstly Sidney was in a relationship with the famous Cambridge professor of economics John Maynard Keynes. And then even more surprising that he had been involved in a failed MI5 mission to track Russians in England. “His death in July 1930 was assumed – especially as he was a stockbroker during a market crash – to be suicide, or as the inquest ruled, accidental. But my investigation reveals there were other factors to consider.”

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SS United States
Date Unknown but likely 1950’s.
Photo is from John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Kimberly Miller, “The Huge, Historic, SS United States Cruised by Palm Beach County. Where Is It Headed?,” The Palm Beach Post, February 27, 2025,

But the ship, which is distinctive for its 65-foot funnels that vented smoke and exhaust away from passengers on deck, was retired from active service in 1969 and languished at a South Philadelphia pier for nearly 30 years. A dispute between pier owners and the SS United States Conservancy meant it had to vacate its longtime resting place. Okaloosa County bought the SS United States for $10 million in October, with plans to sink the ship to create an artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach and open an land-based museum. The ship left earlier this month for its estimated two-week journey to Mobile, Alabama.

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Sonia Rincón, “Liberty Science Center Recreates the Last First-class Supper Served on the Titanic,” ABC7 New York, February 27, 2025,

Titanic Lunch Menu 14 April 1912
Photo: AP

A string trio welcomed guests at a dinner meant to sound, look, and taste just like it did for first-class passengers on the most famous ship never to make it to New York. “I thought it’d be wonderful to stage ‘The Last Supper,’ so to speak, on the Titanic. The first-class passengers had this incredible multi-course meal that probably lasted four or five hours to maybe just a few minutes before they hit the iceberg,” said Paul Hoffman President & CEO of the Liberty Science Center. The updated version of the menu mimics the dishes and flavors of the original first-class meal. Recreating it entirely would have required some guesswork.”A lot of it, over 100 years later needs some interpretation. They’re just dishes that we don’t make anymore, that we don’t eat anymore, and some of which we’d never really heard of,” said Chef Gail Simmons.

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“Watch the Only Surviving Footage of the Titanic Before Its Doomed Voyage,” MSN, last modified February 24, 2025, accessed March 12, 2025,

Titanic at the docks of Southampton, 10 April 1912
Unknown Author
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

According to IrishCentral, this video includes the only surviving genuine footage of the RMS Titanic before it embarked on its first and final voyage. The opening clip was filmed in Belfast in Northern Ireland, where the massive ship was constructed. After the footage was shot, Titanic left for Southampton, England, where it remained before setting sail for New York City on April 10, 1912. Famously, the ship never made it to its destination: It struck an iceberg and sank just four days into its maiden voyage.

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ITV, “Welsh Coal Retrieved From Titanic Wreck Displayed at Exhibition,” ITVX, last modified February 21, 2025,

Welsh coal retrieved from the wreck of the Titanic will be among a collection of artefacts on display at UK’s largest travelling Titanic Exhibition. (Video)

Promotional illustration in color by White Star Line to show how luxurious the facilities were for First Class Passengers. This was used in a postcard to depict the Al la Carte Restaurant on Titanic
Circa 1911
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
r, launched by White Star Line, for advertise the luxiurous facilities for First Class passengers on board the new largest steamer in the World: The RMS Titanic. This postcard depict the First Class Á La Carte Restaurant on board the ship.

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Ashley DiMella, “Crushed Titanic Chandelier That Hung in First-class Smoking Lounge Heads to Museum,” Fox News, last modified February 19, 2025

One special item is on display at “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, and is capturing the attention of guests. A chandelier that hung in a smoking lounge for first-class passengers will be on display after sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic for decades, NJ.com reported. It will be included in an exhibit that has nearly 250 artifacts by RMS Titanic, Inc.

Suggested Titanic Reading

Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.

Brewster, H. (2013). Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First-Class Passengers and Their World. National Geographic Books.

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Titanic News: SS United States, Harland & Wolff Bought by Navantia, Upcoming Exhibitions, Rare Telegram and Postcard Up For Auction

Michael Tanenbaum, “Wind Delays SS United States’ Departure From Philly Until Tuesday,” PhillyVoice, last modified February 17, 2025, https://www.phillyvoice.com/ss-united-states-departure-philly-tuesday-florida-reef/.

High winds in Philadelphia have pushed back the departure of the SS United States until Tuesday, when the historic ocean liner will embark on a two-week trip to Alabama. From there, the ship will undergo preparations to be turned into the world’s largest artificial reef off the Gulf Coast in Florida. In September, after years of efforts to preserve the SS United States, the ocean liner was purchased for $1 million by Okaloosa County in Florida. The county plans to invest more than $10 million to transform the ship into a diving and fishing destination. The ship’s storied history includes carrying four presidents and various celebrities over the years and holding the transatlantic speed record it set on its maiden voyage in 1952. The ship remained in service until 1969. In addition to creating the artificial reef, Okaloosa County also will partner with the conservancy to create a land-based museum that celebrates and commemorates the ship.

SS United States
Date Unknown but likely 1950’s.
Photo is from John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The SS United States in port in Philadelphia, PA.
2 August 2020
Taken by Chuck Homler d/b/a FocusOnWildlife using a drone
Wikimedia Commons

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Titan (submersible)
Becky Kagan Schott, OceanGate

Allie Griffin, “NOAA Releases Chilling Audio of Moment Doomed Titan Submersible Imploded,” New York Post, February 12, 2025, https://nypost.com/2025/02/12/us-news/titanic-submersible-titan-audio-recording-released-by-noaa/.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a bone-chilling audio recording of the moment the Titan submersible imploded, instantly killing all five passengers. The never-before-heard audio clip published online Friday captures staticky white noise followed by a loud boom and reverb — and then the static again. Officials said the boom is the sound of the sub imploding before reaching the Titanic wreck site on the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean on June 18, 2023

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Image:Premier Exhibitions

“TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition Returns to Liberty Science Center After 10 Years,” Press release, last modified February 10, 2025, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/titanic-the-artifact-exhibition-returns-to-liberty-science-center-after-10-years-302372620.html.

TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition to Jersey City, NJ, after 10 years on February 15, 2025. The Exhibition has become a global phenomenon, renowned for its ability to transport visitors on an immersive journey into the remarkable story of the RMS Titanic through authentic artifacts recovered from the wrecksite, compelling storytelling, and interactive experiences.

Information and tickets are at https://lsc.org/explore/exhibitions/titanic.

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Harland & Wolff David and Goliath crane in Belfast, 2006
Plastic Jesus (Dave) via Wikimedia Commons

Emma Taggart, “Navantia Paid £93m for Titanic Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff,” The Times, February 7, 2025, https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/navantia-paid-93m-for-titanic-shipbuilder-harland-and-wolff-stnwbfndf.

The takeover of Harland & Wolff by Navantia cost the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder £93 million after it agreed improved terms with the British government for a contract with the Royal Navy. Navantia had offered £64 million to buy the beleaguered shipbuilder and its four shipyards in October 2024 It completed its purchase of Harland & Wolff’s four shipyards last week, securing more than 1,000 British jobs. The takeover of the troubled shipbuilder came after months of uncertainty and financial problems for Harland & Wolff.

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Image:Premier Exhibitions

“TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition Returns to Bratislava in 2025,” Press release, last modified February 7, 2025, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/titanic-the-artifact-exhibition-returns-to-bratislava-in-2025-302371423.html.

TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition is making its highly anticipated return to Bratislava, Slovakia, following its successful run in 2015. Opening on February 20, 2025, the Exhibition will be hosted at Sport Mall Bratislava Lama?. The Exhibition, presented by Experiential Media Group (E/M Group) and RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), brings Titanic’s history, and real human stories to create an unforgettable experience that has captivated millions worldwide.

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Matthew Impelli, “Rare Telegram From Titanic Disaster Gets Put up for Sale,” Newsweek, February 6, 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/titanic-sinking-telegram-sale-auction-2027509.

A rare and historically significant telegram sent in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster is up for sale at Julien’s Auctions as part of its “Spotlight on History & Technology” event. The telegram, sent on April 16, 1912, from Philip Franklin, vice president of the International Mercantile Marine Co. in New York City, to Captain Herbert Haddock of the RMS Olympic, requested an urgent list of Titanic survivors aboard the rescue ship Carpathia.

The auction will take place on 27 Feb 2025 at 12 noon in Los Angeles at Julien’s Auctions.

Telegram sent by Phillip Franklin, IMM, to Captain Haddock of Olympic on 16 April 1912 asking for list of Titanic survivors aboard.
Source: juliensauctions.com

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Jenna Sundel, “OceanGate ‘Titan’ Victim’s Family Gets Mixed Ruling From Judge,” Newsweek, February 4, 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/oceangate-submarine-titan-implosion-victims-nargeolet-lawsuit-2026068.

A lawsuit filed by the family of an OceanGate Titan submersible implosion victim will be sent back to state court, but the judge declined to pay the requested attorney fees. Judge Lauren King of the Western District of Washington granted a motion to remand on Friday filed by Richard Ortoli, the administrator of Paul-Henri Nargeolet’s estate.

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RMS Titanic pictured in Queenstown, Ireland 11 April 1912
Source:Cobh Heritage Centre, Cobh Ireland/Wikimedia Commons

Kendal Cooper, “Titanic Time Capsule: Rare Postcard From Tragic Voyage Set to Sail Into Auction Expected to Create Worldwide Interest – Hansons Auctioneers,” Hansons Auctioneers, last modified February 4, 2025, https://hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/titanic-time-capsule-rare-postcard-from-tragic-voyage-set-to-sail-into-auction-expected-to-create-worldwide-interest/.

A rare and deeply emotional Titanic postcard, sent just one month after the ship’s tragic sinking, is set to attract global interest when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ February Derby Antiques & Collectors Auction, taking place between the 13th and 18th of February 2025. Discovered during a recent antiques valuation day in Nottinghamshire, the postcard is thought to possess both remarkable historical significance and sentimental value. The postcard will be featured in Hansons’ upcoming February sale, where it is expected to achieve a price between £100-150. With its deep historical connections and rare status, the postcard is expected to attract considerable interest from collectors and Titanic enthusiasts worldwide.

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Emily Goodwin, “Titanic Dining Experience at Dunston Hall Near Norwich,” Eastern Daily Press, January 27, 2025, https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24887156.titanic-dining-experience-dunston-hall-near-norwich/.

Dunston Hall will be hosting the event, which will give guests the chance to “dress up and become a small part of history” for an evening.  At 7pm on March 15, first-class stewardess Mabel Bennett will call ticketholders through to their tables as they enjoy a meal aboard the “unsinkable” ship. Throughout the evening as a three-course meal is served, ticketholders will watch how the Captain and some of the female workers on board are affected as the tragedy unfolds. Much of the evening is interactive and the night will be accompanied by a projection of the Titanic’s voyage and an original soundtrack.

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Suggested Titanic Reading

Lord, Walter, THE NIGHT LIVES ON, Willian Morrow and Company, New York, New York, 1986 (First Edition)

Rossignol, K. (2012). Titanic 1912: The Original News Reporting of the Sinking of the Titanic. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Wilson, A. (2012). Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived

Titanic News Channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

SS United States May Sail Again

SS United States at sea, 1950s. Photo: Public Domain (John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)
SS United States at sea, 1950s.
Photo: Public Domain (John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

The SS United States, once a majestic ocean liner larger than Titanic and decaying away in Philadelphia for two decades, might have a new lease on life. Crystal Cruises, a luxury travel company, has announced plans to overhaul the ship providing it passes a nine month feasibility study. The estimated cost of the overhaul is $700 million. The gutted and rusty ship is owned by a conservation group, SS United States Conservancy, that made the deal with Crystal Cruises.

The ship was launched in 1951 and constructed entirely in the United States. It was the fastest ocean liner of her day and won the Blue Riband for its crossing speed. It remained in service till 1969 when transatlantic ocean travel had dwindled. After that it fell into different hands. Its fittings and furniture were auctioned off and many plans advanced for its use never materialized. The SS United States Conservancy bought the ship in 2011 hoping to restore it for use in a waterfront exhibition. However the costs associated with that along with ongoing docking fees made this difficult and plans were made to scrap the ship if funding was not found. The contract with Crystal Cruises requires them to pay the docking fees for nine months during the feasibility study.

Source: Historic Ship Larger Than Titanic Could Sail Again(4NewYork,5 Feb 2016)

SS United States Might Be Headed For Scrap

SS United States at sea, 1950s (Public Domain)

The old SS United States is facing a most undesirable future. Built in 1952 to be the fastest passenger luxury ship under the U.S. flag (and in fact subsidized by the federal government)she garnered impressive speed records and the Blue Riband in 1952. But transatlantic ship travel dwindled as more people flew rather than take a ship. And so it languished bouncing around from owners and occasional thoughts of using her again for this and that. Most of the fittings and furniture were sold in 1984. Norwegian Cruise Lines did consider using it but never did and ultimately the SS United States Conservancy (a non-profit group)got title to the ship.

But as you can guess, having a ship docked at a working pier (pier 82 in Philadelphia)is not cheap. Ultimately the goal is to move the ship to an area easily accessed by the general public and like the Queen Mary, make it a stationary attraction. The conservancy board of directors has decided, if it cannot raise the funds necessary to sell it to a recycler.

From their official release:

After much deliberation and consultation, the SS United States Conservancy’s Board of Directors has decided to retain a broker to explore the potential sale of America’s Flagship, the SS United States to a responsible, U.S.-based metals recycler. We have achieved an extraordinary amount of progress in support of the SS United States‘ potential redevelopment in recent months, including detailed plans, financial models, renderings, and engineering approaches with support from a number of major firms. In so many ways, we’ve never been closer to saving America’s Flagship, but we have also never been closer to losing this irreplaceable piece of our history.

The Conservancy has been very clear in its communications to its supporters and the media that the carrying costs for the vessel total more than $60,000 per month. While our fundraising effortshave enabled us to meet those continuing obligations to date, thanks to the steadfast support of donors from across the nation and around the world, the financial burdens imposed bythe ship’s ongoing expenses have become unsustainable. The Conservancy continues to do everything within its power to advance an outcome that protects the vessel, preserves her historical legacy, and secures a viable redevelopment program. As we have announced previously, redevelopment negotiations are ongoing. We have identified two potential locations that can accommodate the ship, and we are continuing complex talks with various entities regarding these sites. These ongoing discussions remain subject to confidentiality agreements signed by both parties.

Despite this progress in our redevelopment negotiations, the timing of additional financial support from our partners may come too late, in the absence of another party willing to support the Conservancy or assume responsibility for the vessel at this time.

If donors or investors step forward by the end of the month who are ready, willing, and able to help the Conservancy, America’s Flagship could still be saved. However, if progress toward a new sales option or an infusion of funds does not occur by October 31, 2015, we will have no choice but to negotiate the sale of the ship to a responsible U.S.-based recycler.

Hopefully enough money will be raised so the ship will be saved. But it looks dicey. Sad to see a great piece of American history heading toward being torn up for scrap.

Source(s)
1.SS United States May Only Have Weeks Left Afloat(7 Oct 2015,Newsmax)
2.SS United States Conservancy (website)

Sunday Titanic News

1. It is a sad thing when a grand ship of old is left to slowly rot. Sarah Hoyle writes a piece about the old steamship United States slowly decaying at a pier in Philadelphia. It costs $80,000 a month for maintenance, insurance and security. The SS United States Conservancy has a website where the public can donate to help preserve this grand ship.

SS United States
1950’s
SS United States
2012

Source: Sending Out An SOS For ‘America’s Flagship’(7 April 2013,CNN)

2. Yvonne Hume, whose great uncle John Hume perished when the ship sank in 1912, wants to become on of the first passengers of Titanic II. John Hume was a violinist who played with Wallace Hartley as the ship was sinking and considered a hero in his hometown of Dumfries, Scotland. She believes she can complete her great uncles voyage by sailing on the new ship. She has written a letter to Clive Palmer to request a place on Titanic II.

Source: Titanic Tribute To Tragic Dumfries Musician(7 April 2013, Scotsman)

3. The Titanic museum in Colne, Wallace Hartley’s hometown, might be moving in the near future reports the Lancashire Telegraph. The museum needs more room then at the present location at Old Grammar School. Hopefully they will get the needed funds to relocate and keep going.

Source: Titanic Museum In Colne Could Relocate To Samlesbury(6 April 2013, Lancashire Telegraph)

4. Robert Parr, according to the Times & Star, has created a painting of both Olympic and Titanic sailing together. It may be the only painting that does this. Parr presented the painting to Cliff Ismay, who is related to Bruce Ismay. The painting will be on display at the Maryport Maritime Museum  next weekend.

Source: Launch Planned In Maryport For Titanic Painting(5 Aprl 2013, Times & Star)

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