Harland & Wolff has been denied support from the British government. John Wood, who was the Chief Executive Officer, has left the company. Harland & Wolff has hired Rothchild’s to look at its strategic options. Riverstone Capital, which owns much of the debt of the company, is seeking to place Russell Downs as the interim executive. Downs is apparently a turnaround artist so his skills will no doubt be put to the test here. The major question is whether or not Harland & Wolff will be able to fulfill a £1.6bn Royal Navy contract to build three support ships.

The Telegraph reports that government ministers advised the new government to withhold the loan guarantee as it would possibly violate EU rules. However, there is pressure from unions and other groups to support Harland & Wolff so that jobs are not lost.

Chan, S. P., & Oliver, M. (2024, July 19). Boss of embattled Titanic shipbuilder quits amid financial turmoil. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/07/19/boss-embattled-titanic-shipbuilder-quits-financial-turmoil/

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Hardie, B. (2024, July 21). People only just realising grim reason why there’s no skeletons in Titanic wreck. The Mirror. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/people-only-just-realising-grim-33247863

The reason for the lack of bones and skeletons is down to the depth at which the Titanic came to rest. It sits on the ocean seabed at around 3,800 metres (12,467 feet) and the chemical composition of the water at that depth changes the effect it has on bone. Professor Ballard, who also discovered the wreck of the Bismarck explained how it works to NPR: “The issue you have to deal with is, at depth below about 3,000 feet (914 meters), you pass below what’s called the calcium carbonate compensation depth. And the water in the deep sea is under saturated in calcium carbonate, which is mostly, you know, what bones are made of.

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Patterson, S. (2024, July 21). Race on to save famous 100ft Titanic replica rotting away in Scots garden. . . The Scottish Sun. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/13197692/titanic-model-inverness-replica-saved/

George Glaister, 67, wants to save a 100ft model of the iconic ship which is rotting and tangled in weeds since its creator Stan Fraser died six years ago. George said: “It’s such a shame. It was a labour of love for Stan and was really spectacular when it was built. “It’s like the real Titanic in that it was in prime condition for a short while and is now in decay.” Lighting engineer Stan started working on his version of the historic liner in 2000 after he was forced to quit work because he suffered from ME.

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Bizarre strategies scientists wanted to use to lift Titanic wreckage has people completely baffled. (2024, July 20). UNILAD. https://www.unilad.com/news/us-news/titanic-recovery-theory-ping-pong-balls-339671-20240720

On 15th April 1912, the most infamous shipwreck in world history took place, an event which, in the years since it happened, hundreds of conspiracy theories have been conjectured. And while some of them are quite crazy, I think even some of the scientists’ wild theories on how to resurface the doomed vessel could be more so.

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Reynolds, J. (2024, July 20). Bigger than the Titanic! New billionaire-friendly superyacht Ulyssia will have 132 five-star-hotel. . . Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13654413/Bigger-Titanic-New-billionaire-friendly-superyacht-Ulyssia-132-five-star-hotel-standard-luxury-apartments-theatre-library-swimming-pools-two-helicopters.html

For a life without boundaries,’ promise the makers of the superyacht ‘Ulyssia’, a planned 1,050ft (320m) vessel bigger than The Titanic that its owners say with ‘transform our concept of discovery and home’. The Ulyssia is still some four years away from its expected date of completion, but new images provide unprecedented insight into the life of luxury on board, including 132 lavish apartments said to ‘meet the standards of a five-star hotel’, a theatre, a library, various pools and great underwater panoramic windows. Although it is not yet known exactly how much residency on board will cost, details have begun to emerge around the kind of lifestyle guests can expect to enjoy. Beyond the essential amenities – restaurants, a medical centre, an XXL wine cellar – residents will also be able to bring home comfort on board, customising their rooms to their liking.

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Parkins, K. (2024, July 17). New Titanic exhibit on display at the Molly Brown House Museum through December. Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH). https://www.denver7.com/news/front-range/denver/new-titanic-exhibit-on-display-at-the-molly-brown-house-museum-through-december

A new Titanic exhibit is now on display at the Molly Brown House Museum through December, the historical landmark and tourist attraction announced Tuesday. “American Dreams” will showcase coal from the Titanic wreckage, a Titanic souvenir booklet, as well as other White Star Line collections — the company that created the Titanic. For those who don’t know, Margaret “Molly” Brown gained notoriety because she was one of the passengers on the Titanic. She was put on a lifeboat and ended up being saved, becoming the “Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

For information and tickets, go to https://mollybrown.org/.

Suggested Reading

• Behe, G. (2012). On board RMS Titanic: Memories of the Maiden Voyage. The History Press.
• Lord, Walter, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, New York, 1955. Multiple revisions and reprints, notably Illustrated editions (1976,1977,1978 etc.)
• Wilson, A. (2012). Shadow of the Titanic: The Extraordinary Stories of Those Who Survived. Simon and Schuster.

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