- Last Meals On The Titanic Revealed (MSN.com, 19 Dec 2020)
The Titanic was the most luxurious ship afloat and food onboard was a big part of the liner’s appeal. Meals were included in the ticket price for nearly all passengers, with the exception of those in the à la carte restaurant. There was enough to cater for 2,200 people on what should have been a week-long voyage. Hefty provisions included 75,000lbs of meat, 11,000lbs of fresh fish, 40 tons of potatoes, 40,000 eggs, 7,000 heads of lettuce, 10,000lbs of sugar, 250 barrels flour, 36,000 apples, 1,500 gallons of milk and 15,000 bottles of ale.
2. Sweden to Allow New Underwater Investigation Into Estonia Ferry Wreck Site (Sputniknews.com, 18 Dec 2020)
Officials in Sweden announced their intentions on Friday to allow for a new investigation into the sinking of the MS Estonia after new evidence emerged from a documentary more than 25 years after the disastrous incident. Sweden’s Home Affairs Minister Mikael Damberg revealed during a news conference that the country’s Accident Investigation Authority, along with counterparts from Finland and Estonia, would be sending divers down to the wreck site to further investigate claims made about damage to the vessel’s hull.
The documentary at the center of renewed interest in the wreck came from the Discovery Channel network, and it was released in September to coincide with the wreck’s 26th anniversary. The five-part broadcast provided new underwater footage that showed a previously unrecorded 13-foot gaping hole in the ship’s hull. After the documentary was aired, Sweden, Finland and Estonia announced that a joint investigation to assess the new finding would be undertaken. An official report in 1997 ultimately concluded that the sinking was caused by a faulty door lock on the vessel’s bow.
3. Titanic Hotel Unveils Life-sized Gingerbread House (Fft.ie, 18 Dec 2020)
(Note-This looks more like a press release than a news item. But the gingerbread house they showed in the photo looks pretty good.)
Sail into Christmas by visiting Titanic Hotel Belfast to marvel at the only life-sized gingerbread house in a hotel in Northern Ireland and chill out with a Christmas cocktail while enjoying a festive feast in the Wolff Grill. If you are dreading the fuss of being joyful and merry while cooking the Christmas lunch on Christmas Day, let Titanic Hotel Belfast do all the prep for you in advance. Relax and enjoy time with your family after decorating the tree with baubles knowing that your only task is serving your guests with an exquisitely prepared festive feast by award winning chefs of the Wolff Grill.
4. Titanic Artefact Found After 100 Years ‘Could Have Saved’ Passenger Liner From Iceberg (Daily Express, 14 Dec 2020)
TITANIC could have “got out of the way” of the iceberg it would eventually collide with if the crew had access to a vital cabinet key, according to claims made nearly 100 years after it sank. But YouTube channel ‘Bright Side’ claimed it could have been avoided had the chief officer had access to a single key during their ‘A man who failed to save the Titanic’ series.’ The narrator said: “Titanic was a catastrophe to come out of a long chain of unfortunate events. “The chain that would decide its cruel fate started with a tiny key. “It seems like such an insignificant little thing, so trivial that the man who had it on him completely forgot to hand it over to the person who needed it at a critical moment.