Tag Archives: Harland & Wolff

Harland & Wolff Update

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

It is being reported that a deal to purchase Titanic shipbuilder Harland & Wolff has gotten approval by the British cabinet. Spanish government owned Navantia will acquire the company and its four UK shipyards keeping about 1,000 British jobs in the process. While the final details have yet to be worked out, a general outline has been agreed to. Also, a UK Royal Navy contract for three Fleet Solid Support vessels will be renegotiated.

A deal could be reached later this week and announced before Christmas.

Source

Kleinman, Mark. “Harland & Wolff Close to Government-backed Rescue Deal With Navantia.” Sky News. Last modified December 7, 2024. https://news.sky.com/story/harland-and-wolff-close-to-government-backed-rescue-deal-with-navantia-13268471.

Harland & Wolff Owed £160 Million;Institutional Buyer Snatches Large Parts of Collection; Rolex Watches That Visited Titanic Up for Auction

Ricketts, Colin. “‘Institutional Buyer’ Swoops but Leaves Titanic Haul for Collectors in Shipwreck Sale.” JustCollecting News. Last modified November 1, 2024. https://news.justcollecting.com/institutional-buyer-swoops-but-leaves-titanic-haul-for-buyers-in-shipwreck-sale/.

Lay’s Auctioneers of Penzanze posted this statement to their website just a week before the Charlestown Shipwreck Museum Sale was due to start on November 6. “We are pleased to announce that an institutional home has been found for many of the most important shipwreck artefacts from Charlestown’s incredible collection. Before this shock news, over 7,000 items from the Shipwreck Treasure Museum had been due to sell in 1,260 lots. Now 500 have been removed. A piece of coal from the legendary liner is still on sale with a £400 – £600 estimate. And those fascinated by the disaster-struck vessel can bid for models expected to realise, respectively, up to £800 and as much as £1,200 at sale. The lots listed still constitute a major maritime sale. They include guns, diving suits, uniforms and many ship parts.

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

Robinson, Jon. “Huge Debts at Titanic Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff Revealed.” City AM. Last modified October 31, 2024. https://www.cityam.com/huge-debts-at-titanic-shipbuilder-harland-wolff-revealed/.

Titanic shipbuilder Harland & Wolff owed more than £160m when it collapsed into administration last month, it has been revealed. Teneo was appointed to oversee the process at the 162-year-old holding company in September while its subsidiary firms, including its prized Belfast shipyard, will continue to trade under the control of the directors. “Whilst the group delivered revenue growth, it was slower than required and a recent large contract win was not expected to become profitable in the near term. “As a result, during 2024 the group had an increasing short-term liquidity requirement alongside a significant level of creditor arrears.”

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“Certificate of Origin: This coal was recovered from the wreck of R.M.S. Titanic during the 1994 Titanic Research and Recovery Expedition. Object No. 94/0036. Authenticated by the signature of President, RMS Titanic, Inc.; Captain, IFREMER.” Exhibited at the National Shipwreck Museum in Charlestown, Cornwall, South West England. [This is the coal up for auction.]
Image: Ben Sutherland via Wikimedia Commons. Posted originally on Flickr.

Paul, Andrew. “A Hunk of Coal From the Titanic Could Fetch $780 at Auction.” Popular Science, October 29, 2024. https://www.popsci.com/science/shipwreck-auction-titanic-coal/.

It’s unlikely that much else from the Titanic’s wreckage will ever return to the surface, although a number of artifacts have been salvaged since the famous ocean liner’s rediscovery in 1985. Now, one of those pieces of history is headed to auction—a hunk of coal originally intended as fuel for the 882-foot-long vessel’s boilers. The massive archeological trove previously resided at the UK’s Shipwreck Treasure Museum near St. Austell, Cornwall. Although its owners attempted to find a buyer for the institution earlier this year, no one appears ready to shell out the listing’s roughly $2.5 million price tag. Speaking with The Guardian on October 27th, David Lay of Lay’s Auctioneers helped contextualize the significance of his company’s impending event lots, including a length of rope recovered from King Henry VIII’s Tudor flagship, the Mary Rose.

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Davis, Johnny. “For Sale: Rolex Watches That Have Been to the Titanic.” Esquire, October 29, 2024. https://www.esquire.com/uk/watches/a62746931/for-sale-rolex-watches-that-have-been-to-the-titanic/.

The second watch was gifted to Giddings by a Rolex employee and prominent diver called T. Walker Lloyd. The pair had become friends after Giddings had begun documenting the research of the marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle. Giddings’s photography was used by Rolex to launch its working relationship with Dr. Earle. (Giddings provided it for free.) Now both of Giddings’ Submariners are up for auction at Sotheby’s. The December sale is being overseen by Geoff Hess. The steel ref. 1680 has an estimate of $20,000-$40,000. His yellow gold ref. 1680/8 has an estimate of $30,000-$60,000. The sale takes place on 6 December in New York.

Suggested Reading

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.

Novantia in Talks to Acquire Harland & Wolf; OceanGate CEO’s Wife Related to Isidor & Ida Strauss; Titanic Exhibition Coming to Boston

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

Williams, Kelly. “Eerie Link Between Devoted Titanic Couple and the Doomed Oceangate Submersible.” Daily Star. Last modified October 13, 2024. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/eerie-link-between-devoted-titanic-33864720.

In a twist of fate, it has emerged that their great-granddaughter Wendy Rush was married to the CEO of OceanGate, Stockton Rush who died when the Titan submersible imploded in June 2023 killing all five on board, Business Insider reports. Her great-grandparents, Isidor and Ida were born in Germany before moving to America and were aged 67 and 63 when the Titanic sank.

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

Oliver, Matt. “Spanish Shipbuilder Close to a Deal to Buy Titanic Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff.” The Telegraph, October 11, 2024. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/10/11/spanish-shipbuilder-close-deal-buy-titanic-harland-wolff/.

Spanish state-owned giant Navantia is nearing a deal to buy stricken shipbuilder Harland & Wolff out of administration, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.  The sale being lined up in exclusive talks between the parties, which remains tentative, would see Navantia take control of Harland & Wolff in late November, The Telegraph understands.  It would include all four of the company’s yards – in Belfast; Appledore, Devon; Arnish on the Isle of Lewis; and Methil, Fife – which collectively employ around 1,000 workers. 

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Titan (submersible)
Becky Kagan Schott, OceanGate

FOX 13 Seattle. “Titan’s Former Lead Engineer Says He Felt Pressured to Get the Submersible Ready.” FOX 13 Seattle, October 8, 2024. https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/titans-former-lead-engineer-says-he-felt-pressured-get-submersible-ready.

The lead engineer for an experimental submersible that imploded en route to the wreck of the Titanic testified Monday that he felt pressured to get the vessel ready to dive and refused to pilot it for a journey several years earlier. “‘I’m not getting in it,'” Tony Nissen said he told Stockton Rush, co-founder of the OceanGate company that owned the Titan submersible.

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Titanic lost: Belfast Telegraph front page on 16 April 1912
Source: Belfast Telegraph

Campsie, Alison. “The Scotsman Archive: How We Reported the Sinking of the Titanic.” The Scotsman, October 4, 2024. https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/the-scotsman-archive-how-we-reported-the-sinking-of-the-titanic-4809634.

The Scotsman first reported the disaster on April 16, but the story only appeared in a few lines of parliamentary business picked up from the day before. The report said: “The President of the Board of Trade said he received a short time ago the following telegram from The White Star Office: Liverpool. “Only information telegram from New York as follows – ‘Newspaper wireless reports advise Titanic collision with iceberg at 41.46 north, 50.14 west. Women being put into lifeboats. Steamer Virginian expects to reach Titanic 10am. Olympic and Baltic proceeding to Titanic. Have no direct information.” Page 7 of The Scotsman on April 17 1912 where the first full stories of the sinking of The Titanic appeared.

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Titanic Lunch Menu 14 April 1912
Photo: AP

Lupus, Luna Christina. “How First Class Passengers Took Their Steak Aboard the Titanic.” Tasting Table. Last modified October 3, 2024. https://www.tastingtable.com/1675171/titanic-first-class-menu-steak/.

On April 11, the second evening of the ship’s journey, sirloin steak was served with horseradish cream, a combination still popular today. Pairing horseradish with steak offers an elevated flavor experience, and the cream is very easy to prepare-Horseradish is mixed with sour cream and seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Another steak dish from the dinner menu is beef tournedos a la Victoria. Tournedos are the same steak cut as filet mignon; except they can be slightly larger. Prepared “a la Victoria,” tournedos were served with crumb-coated fried bananas, a very interesting combination that was then topped with white and espagnole sauces, two of French cuisine’s five mother sauces. 

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Titanic Exhibition

Bodnarchuk, Kari. “Travel News You Can Use: Titanic Exhibit and Theater District Tour.” BostonGlobe.Com, October 3, 2024. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/03/lifestyle/here-there-everywhere-titanic-theater-district/.

See deck chairs, jewelry, fine China, and other authentic artifacts from the wreck site of the Titanic during an upcoming exhibition at The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza, Oct. 17 to May 29, 2025. “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” comes to Boston for the first time, with more than 250 artifacts and a chance for viewers to learn real stories about the passengers and crew of the “unsinkable” ocean liner, which sank in April 1912 during its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City.

For dates, times, and ticket prices, go to https://titanicboston.us/.

Suggested 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

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

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.

Titanic Shipbuilder Insolvent; Put into Administration

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

The 163-year-old shipbuilder known for building Titanic has declared itself insolvent and put into administration. This is the second time in two years it has done this. The company’s board of directors said in a statement that there is a credible path forward for the company. Teneo, which handles administration under such circumstances, will take over the day-to-day operations of the company during this period. All non-core operations were already in the process of being shut down and employees in those areas are expected to lose their jobs. One marine services business is being sold, so it’s employees may retain their jobs.

The shipyards will remain open during this time and contracts it has will continue to be fulfilled. Of concern is a UK Royal Navy contract. A government spokesman said the government was concerned but has been told no jobs at the shipyard or core operations are at stake. Navantia, the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder, has expressed interest. Navantia is a partner in the program to build the Royal Navy vessels in which Harland & Wolff is a subcontractor. The UK defense contractor Babcock International is also interested as well. Creditors will be the first to get any payments required under any contracts they have with the company. Shareholders in the publicly traded company (trading in the stock was stopped a while back) will lose their investment.

Sources:

Campbell, John. “Titanic Shipyard to Go Into Administration.” Last modified September 16, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkddrv7v2po.

Ziaddy, Hanna. “The 163-year-old Company That Built the Titanic Says It Is Insolvent.” CNN, September 16, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/16/business/harland-wolff-titanic-shipbuilder-insolvent/index.html.

In other Titanic News

Titan (submersible)
Becky Kagan Schott, OceanGate

Rissman, Kelly. “Titan Sub Hearing Live Updates: Former OceanGate Employee Admits He Had ‘No Confidence’ in Ship’s Design.” The Independent, September 17, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/titan-sub-submersible-last-message-bodies-implosion-hearing-b2614007.html.

David Lochridge, the former director of marine operations who worked at the company from 2015 to 2018, told the panel about the “red flags” he witnessed, including co-founder Stockton Rush’s desire to qualify a pilot in one day — typically a lengthy process. He also painted a picture of Rush’s personality. He walked through a harrowing incident when Rush’s bungled dive to the Andrea Doria wreckage site ended in Rush throwing a “PlayStation controller” at Lochridge’s head. Lochridge issued an inspection report in January 2018 detailing his laundry list of concerns with an early version of the Titan. He was fired not long after.

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Rissman, Kelly. “Final Messages Revealed From the Titan Sub Before Tragic Implosion.” The Independent, September 17, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/titan-submersible-last-words-final-message-coast-guard-b2614008.html.

“All good here.” Those were some of the final words that the doomed Titan submersible crew communicated before the submersible imploded on its mission to the Titanic wreckage site in June 2023. The message, revealed as part of the Coast Guard’s Monday hearing into the circumstances of the failed mission, was sent to support vessel Polar Prince on June 18, 2023, shortly before the submersible imploded, killing all five of its crew members. It was an incident that captivated both sides of the Atlantic as crews made a mad dash to save the crew after the sub lost contact with the surface – with the world unaware that the lives had been lost.

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Associated Press. “Titanic Troubles: Engineer Says He Felt Pressured to Get Submersible Ready.” Boston Herald, September 16, 2024. https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/09/16/titanic-troubles-engineer-says-he-felt-pressured-to-get-submersible-ready/.

The lead engineer for an experimental submersible that imploded en route to the wreck of the Titanic testified Monday that he felt pressured to get the vessel ready to dive and refused to pilot it for a journey several years earlier. “‘I’m not getting in it,’” Tony Nissen said he told Stockton Rush, co-founder of the OceanGate company that owned the Titan submersible.

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Suggested Reading

Marshall, L. (2019). Sinking of the Titanic: The Greatest Disaster At Sea – Special Edition with Additional Photographs. Independently Published.

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. Simon and Schuster.

Harland & Wolff & Clive Palmer?

Enormous gantry cranes in the yards of Harland & Wolff, Belfast 2018.
Image Credit: August Schwerdfeger via Wikimedia Commons

Harland & Wolff is in serious trouble as previously noted here on this blog. They cannot get a government backed security for a loan, lost the Port Stanley harbor bid, had to drop a ferry service they were running, and possibly could lose a UK Royal Navy contract. Now comes an interesting twist to this tale: Clive Palmer. The tycoon offered up a substantial sum of money ($200 million Australian) to the company though it is unclear whether it was a loan or something else. And he also wants them to build Titanic II.

Photo:Benjamin J MacDonald

Clive Palmer has been trying to build an updated version of the classic ship since that famous movie came out. He hosted some major media events, contracted with various firms to the basic groundwork and planning, and set up a company to oversee it (Blue Star Line). Prior to the Pandemic, he hoped to build it in China. But he got into a spat with the Chinese government, and nothing got done. And with everything shut down for a while, nothing was being built anywhere. Clive Palmer though has never given up the dream and sees an opportunity with Harland & Wolff. Alas Harland & Wolff does not seem that interested, at least for now. He tried meeting with the new president, Russell Downs, but it never materialized. Although he owns some stock in the company (and has amassed a great fortune), the company appears uninterested.

Now I have been very critical of Clive Palmer in the past. He has made many audacious claims about his Titanic II and to date it has not materialized. He did hire marine consultants to draft actual plans and consulted other experts as well, so in that part he is certainly genuine. Building the actual ship though has proven a Herculean challenge. Hercules had to clean out the Augean stables by diverting a river. Palmer has loads of money but so far no one is building his dream. That is until something unexpected happened with Harland & Wolff experiencing serious financial problems, so he offered serious cash and wanting them to build his Titanic II.  Now I am not a shareholder in Harland & Wolff, but one has to wonder why they would not want to meet to at least discuss terms of him assisting the beleaguered shipbuilder. And I have to think others might be of the same mind as well.

After all, this is a tycoon with lots of money to spend. And consider all the great publicity it would be if-just saying if-a Titanic II is built there in Belfast. The city, already embracing the original Titanic, would now be seeing a modern-day replica being built right there. Now I have no idea if that would happen, but it is certain to get a lot of people thinking about it. Then again Palmer does have a reputation and perhaps that scares of people like Downs. Yet, considering the financial peril they are in, the old saying “Beggars cannot be choosers” comes to mind. The company needs serious money to keep going and Palmer is offering them a lifeline. They might want to reconsider since Palmer is serious about his offer. And they simply do not have many options left. Otherwise, a once venerated shipbuilder will likely fold, go under the hammer for asset sale, be bought out by a foreign company, or its property sold for development (think hotel and commercial building going up). I suspect others may put pressure on the company and Clive Palmer may very well get his ship built in the very place where the first one was built.

Source

Knight, E. (2024, August 7). Clive Palmer’s plan to build Titanic II runs into another iceberg. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/clive-palmer-s-plan-to-build-titanic-ii-runs-into-another-iceberg-20240807-p5k0e8.html

Harland & Wolff Loses Falkland Contract; Plaque Placed at Titanic Wreck;Titanic Pigeon Forge Sold

Enormous gantry cranes in the yards of Harland & Wolff, Belfast 2018.
Image Credit: August Schwerdfeger via Wikimedia Commons

Harland & Wolff got bad news the other day according to various news reports. It was a preferred bidder for a Falkland Island contract to redevelop Port Stanley. However the Falkland Islands government announced that after having discussions with the company, they have decided to end the contract. It is a blow to the beleaguered company that was unable to get British government to guarantee a loan. They have received a short term loan but its ability to fulfill a UK Royal Navy contract could be in jeopardy. Additionally the company has stopped a ferry service it was running as well.

Sources

Taylor, G. (2024b, August 6). Harland & Wolff crisis deepens: Titanic shipbuilder loses £120m Falkland Islands port contract. CityAM. https://www.cityam.com/harland-wolff-crisis-deepens-titanic-shipbuilder-loses-120m-falkland-islands-port-contract/

Oliver, M. (2024b, August 1). Harland & Wolff abandons ferry service amid scramble to survive. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/08/01/harland-wolff-abandons-ferry-service-in-scramble-to-survive/

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Paul-Henri Nargeolet 1946-2023
Image: Harper Collins (®) via Wikimedia Commons

During the recent Titanic expedition, a plaque honoring Paul-Henri Nargeolet was placed at the wreck site. Nargeolet was aboard the submersible Titan that imploded last year taking the lives of everyone aboard. Nargeolet was a well known and respected deep sea explorer and Titanic expert. RMS Titanic issued a statement about the plaque:

At the heart of #TITANICExpedition2024 is our beloved colleague and friend PH Nargeolet. “His memory has been etched into the DNA of this Expedition from the start. PH was intended to be on board, but his life was tragically cut short last summer. “

Source

Guinness, E. (2024b, August 6). Titan submersible victim honoured with plaque at Titanic wreck site. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/titan-submersible-titanic-oceangate-plaque-b2591272.html

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Titan (submersible)
Becky Kagan Schott, OceanGate

Rory Golden, who was on the support ship for the Titan submersible, has been giving interviews about that tragic day. He relates their fear and the false hope they would be found alive. They had an image in their minds that they were trapped down there running out of oxygen, but it was a false hope.

“We had this image in our heads of them being down there, running out of oxygen in the freezing cold, getting terribly frightened and scared,” Golden told BBC News

And when the remains were found, they all cried as they had formed a bond with all those who had been aboard that submersible. They had gotten to know them on the ship during the week.

Source

Sainato, M. (2024, August 1). Witness to Titan sub disaster tells of rescue effort: ‘We lived in false hope.’ The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/01/titan-submersible-witness-rescue-effort-oceangate

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Titanic Pigeon Forge logo. (n.d.).
Credit: TitanicPigeonForge.com

It looks like Dolly Parton, or rather her company, has bought the Titanic properties of John Joslyn, which includes the well known Titanic Pigeon Forge Museum in Tennessee. Apparently the deal was inked a little while back. So now Parton can include Titanic in her entertainment repertoire.  No one is commenting on any impending changes to either this one or its sister location in Branson, Missouri. With Dolly now part of it, you can bet she will find time to visit.

Source

Morgan-Rumsey, C. (2024, August 1). Pigeon Forge’s Titanic Museum purchased by Dolly’s Stampede parent company. https://www.wvlt.tv. https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/08/01/pigeon-forges-titanic-museum-purchased-by-dollys-stampede-parent-company/

 

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.

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. Simon and Schuster.

 

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.

Monday Titanic News: Harland & Wolff Falkland Contract in Peril; Village Ismay Retired To; Inside Icon of the Seas; Inflatable Titanic Door

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

Taylor, G. (2024, July 29). Harland & Wolff at risk of losing £120m Falkland Islands port contract. CityAM. https://www.cityam.com/harland-wolff-at-risk-of-losing-120m-falkland-islands-port-contract/

Harland & Wolff is at risk of losing out on a £120m contract to redevelop a major port in the Falkland Islands, in what marks the latest struggle for the embattled company. But as it battles to stave off collapse after the new Labour government refused to guarantee a vital £200m loan, officials in the Falkland Islands are reconsidering the decision.

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J. Bruce Ismay, president of White Star Line (1912) Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
J. Bruce Ismay, president of White Star Line (1912)
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

O’sullivan, J. (2024, July 27). Scenic Irish village that “hid” the Titanic owner after the infamous sinking. Irish Star. https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/titanic-owner-hides-irish-village-33339629

After his reputation was left in ruins, Ismay, who had been exonerated from blame in the Titanic disaster by a British inquiry faced public scorn, with incidents of him and his wife being mocked in the streets of both the UK and the US. In 1913, the Lancashire-born mogul and his partner, Julia, sought solace in Connemara, making their new home at Costello Lodge in Casla. Locals in the Irish-speaking region of Co Galway greeted the Ismays warmly, seeing them as employers and remarking on their generous nature. Nonetheless, J Bruce was given the moniker “Bru sios me”, an Irish phrase meaning “lower me down,” a nod to his infamous role in the Titanic saga regarding lifeboat provision.

(Note this article gets some basic facts wrong about the lifeboats on Titanic. It directly says that Ismay declined a Board of Trade request for more lifeboats and slashed them. However, the number of lifeboats did meet (and exceed) the then Board of Trade rules which used tonnage rather than the number of people aboard for setting the number of lifeboats. It did turn out later White Star wanted to reduce the number so they would not clutter up the deck, but that didn’t occur. Ismay did reject adding more lifeboats for that reason (cluttering up the deck).

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RMS Titanic beginning sea trials, April 2, 1912.
Public Domain (National Archives and Records Administration,ARC Identifier#306 RG 306)

Ramanand, L. (2024, July 25). This gripping Titanic exhibit is finally open & anchored in Seattle. Secret Seattle. https://secretseattle.co/titanic-exhibit-seattle-open/

The compelling experience that is “Titanic. The Exhibition” is now open to guests at the Maritime Building at 906 Alaskan Way and tickets are available! The space displays numerous artifacts from passengers and other historical items connected to the ship and it’s open in Seattle all summer long.

For information and tickets, go to https://titanicexhibition.com/seattle/.

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TACKY TITANIC ALERT!

Titanic Door Float on Amazon
Screenshot Amazon 29 Jul 2024
©Mark E. Taylor All Rights Reserved

You know there have been a lot of tacky Titanic products over the years. Titanic shaped ice cube maker so you can have the ship in your cocktail. And don’t forget the infamous Titanic slide. Shaped like Titanic in its final moments, you can slide down on it in your backyard. So, it seems fitting they got around to the iconic end scene in James Cameron’s Titanic. You know what I am talking about. It is the scene where our heroes, Jack and Rose, are in the water. Rose is able to get on a floating door, but Jack cannot jump on as it may not hold the both of them. Well, the folks at SCS Direct decided to create a door float inspired by the movie so you can find out if both could have been saved. It sells for $35 on Amazon (note the price is subject to change) and appears to have some good things said about it.

Here are a few things posted about it on Amazon:

“My son wanted this for Christmas last year & im so glad I got it for him! First off, when it comes in the box, it’s HEAVY. Not like a normal floatation device heavy, heavier than that! It is HUGE which he was hoping for & he absolutely LOVES using it! Best $30 ever spent on a floatie!

This was a gift for a friend who was throwing a pool party. It was a hit and everyone wanted to try to see if they could fit on it. Blowing it up was a bit difficult, but easy with a ball airpump. My friend has had it for over a month and has used it daily and it is still holding up well.

I am Huge Titanic fan and I bought this instantly upon seeing it . Yes, Jack could have fit. But the question is with the waves would buoyancy would it work? Oh well my Heart Will Go On.

 There were a few negatives as well. Some said it did not hold air long, changed color when out in the sun, and was defective. The UK Sun did an article about it. James Cameron did a test to see if two could fit on the door. The short answer-yes, but just long enough for a lifeboat to reach them. But why speculate when you can have your own inflatable Titanic door to answer that question for yourself. And I bet the company has made some decent money on this product. Yet it once again trivializes the fact that over 1,500 died on that cold night. If only they did have some flotation devices like this, some might have survived.

Source

Jiang, N. (2024, July 25). ‘It’s the king of the world,’ Titanic fans rave about iconic door-shaped pool float that proves ‘Jack could. . . The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/12011854/titanic-door-pool-float-jack-saved-survive/

You can view the product on Amazon.

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.

Harland & Wolff Update; Why No Titanic Skeletons; Bizarre Ways People Thought to Bring up Titanic

Enormous gantry cranes in the yards of Harland & Wolff, Belfast 2018.
Image Credit: August Schwerdfeger via Wikimedia Commons

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

Bathtub in Capt. Smith’s bathroom. Rusticles are observed growing over most of the pipes and fixtures in the room.
June 2004
Lori Johnston, RMS Titanic Expedition 2003, NOAA-OE.
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

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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Mrs. J.J. “Molly” Brown presenting trophy cup award to Capt. Arthur Henry Rostron, for his service in the rescue of the Titanic.
Photo:Public Domain (US Library of Congress, digital id# cph 3c21013)

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

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Harland & Wolff Still Waiting On Government; New Jersey Man Died on Titanic

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

Jolly, J. (2024, July 17). Titanic shipyard owner Harland & Wolff awaits news of funding lifeline. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jul/16/titanic-shipyard-owner-harland-wolff-awaits-news-of-funding-lifeline

Harland & Wolff, the owner of the Belfast shipyard that built the Titanic, has insisted that it is still awaiting a government decision on a £200m intervention despite signs that Labour is due to reject the financial lifeline. Harland & Wolff (H&W) was forced to suspend its London-listed shares a fortnight ago, and it has missed two deadlines to file audited accounts, raising questions over its finances and its ability to fulfil a £1.6bn contract to build the three fleet solid support ships that will carry supplies such as ammunition and food to the navy’s aircraft carriers.

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Michal, J. (2024, July 16). Have you heard of the South Jersey man aboard Titanic? Cat Country 107.3. https://catcountry1073.com/south-jersey-businessman-died-on-titanic/

Over 1,500 people died at sea that night. Horrible deaths, too. Among them, believe it or not, was a South Jersey native. His name was Frederick Sutton. Sutton was born in England but came to the US in the late 1800s. He ultimately ended up settling in present-day Haddonfield in Camden County. According to Encyclopedia Titanica, Sutton did pretty well for himself in life, making his fortune in multiple business ventures from coffee importing to holding leadership positions in multiple banks. The venture that led him to the southeastern most points of NJ, however, was his interest in real estate. Real estate + the beach… makes sense, right? Reportedly, Frederick Sutton was one of the founding fathers of a little fishing town on one specific South Jersey beach. Today, we call it Wildwood.

Suggested Reading

Eaton John P. & Haas Charles, TITANIC TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY, SECOND EDITION, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, New York, 1995 First American 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. Simon and Schuster.

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.

Harland & Wolff Faces More Problems and Volo Titanic Exhibit Reopens

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

Beleaguered Harland & Wolff asked that its shares listed in London be halted due to problems with government auditors. Auditors have so far refused to sign off its accounts and the deadline they agreed upon expired on Monday. Harland states it will publish them next week after discussing with its bookkeepers how best to report revenues from contracts. The issue has called into question a Royal Navy contract and is still awaiting approval for a loan guarantee of £200 million. The company warns if it is not approved by Thursday, then its ability to execute contracts will be peril. Currently the company has partnered with Spanish state-owned ship building giant Navantia to work on the Royal Navy contract.

Source:

Oliver, M. (2024, July 1). Royal Navy ships at risk as auditors refuse to sign off Titanic shipyard’s accounts. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/07/01/titanic-shipbuilder-suspends-shares-amid-row-with-auditors/

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The Volo Museum Titanic exhibit has reopened after being closed due to a flood. The exact cause of the flood has yet to be determined though it is likely that storms that hit the area around the time were responsible. However, since the museum is known for its alleged supernatural occurrences, naturally some speculate an otherworldly explanation. So far, no explanation has been offered and officials claim no broken pipes, roof leaks, or anything else that could have allowed so much water in. The flooding itself was captured on security footage and shows it spreading on the floor indicating it most certainly occurred. The question is how the flooding occurred. The water could have seeped up and out through as yet undiscovered holes in the floor or on the sides. Or it could be a case of simple fakery where someone created the flood in such a way as to make it look like no obvious explanation can be seen. Very skilled illusionists and those who work with special effects have all kinds of interesting ways to make things look real when they aren’t.

Source:

Borcia, S. (2024, July 1). Titanic exhibit at Volo Museum reopens after being shut down due to ‘unexplainable’ flooding. Lake and McHenry County Scanner. https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2024/07/01/titanic-exhibit-at-volo-museum-reopens-after-being-shut-down-due-to-unexplainable-flooding/

Suggested Reading or Viewing

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. Simon and Schuster.

Cameron, J. (Director). (2012, September 12). Titanic (Digitally Remastered). Paramount.

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.