THE TITANIC IS READY TO RETURN TO THE SEA

 

      

The Titanic is ready to go back sailing! Well, truth is that in 2022, a replica of the world’s most famous ocean liner will make its maiden voyage, exactly 110 years after the now legendary sinking.    

First a stretch from Dubai to Southampton, then the most romantic undertaking: retracing the original journey from England to New York. The ship was baptized Titanic II and will be identical to that of 1912 in the length of 269 metres, in the fittings, in the distinction of passengers into three classes and in the halls.                                                                                                                   

Only two substantial
differences:  technology and safety. The Titanic II will in fact have horizontal stabilizers and an electro diesel propulsion system instead of the 159 coal furnaces and 29 boilers of the original. Above all, however, it will be equipped with satellite controls, modern navigation systems and a number of lifeboats and life jackets adequate to the number of passengers.     

The company is the work of the Australian tycoon Clive Palmer who has invested over 500 million dollars; after the announcement in 2012 and the various bureaucratic stops, his dream is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality.                                                                                                                   

At the moment, the sales of tickets for the 2400 seats available are not yet open but many are ready to spend a lot of money in order to relive the adventure of the Titanic.

 

             

The story and the accident:  Gargantuan, luxurious and defined as unsinkable, the Titanic was the largest and most technologically advanced ocean liner of its time.                                                              

Together with two other sister ships, the Britannic and the Olympic, it was to be the weekly “moving bridge” between Europe and America.  The maiden voyage departed from Southampton on 10 April 1912 with 1317 passengers and nearly 900 crew members.    

 On the night of April 14 the lookouts, with the naked eye as there were no binoculars on board, sighted an iceberg but the communication was delayed and the ship rammed the ice block at a speed of 22.5 knots, over 40km per hour.                                                                                                                            

The hull opened and the Titanic slowly began to take on water. The emergency operations started but on board there were only 16 lifeboats which would never have been enough for all the passengers. Furthermore, many were lowered into the sea half empty. The ship took on water until the bow was completely sunk, and the stern rose about 30 degrees above sea level until it broke in two, sinking and taking many of the passengers with it.                                                                

Only 706 survived.

 

The wreck

In September 1985, oceanographer Robert Ballard found the wreck of the Titanic at a depth of over 3,000 meters, 486 miles from the island of Newfoundland in the Atlantic. The stern was nearly 600 meters away from the bow, turned in the opposite direction.   

Since then, many artefacts have been recovered, becoming real relics. However, recent studies and analyses would have raised the alarm regarding the wreck.  Indeed, it would appear that the Titanic is slowly disappearing due to erosion by bacteria, underwater flora and fauna, as well as the action of ocean currents. 

But the research continues, also to study the marine fauna that has proliferated inside the shipwrecked steamer: a project that requires huge funds. For this reason, the Ocean Gate company has decided to open the Titanic to the public, organizing guided tours for tourists who want to dive to 3,800 meters aboard a special submarine.             

The cost of shipping is not low: $ 150,000 per person for the ride around the Titanic.

 

The replica of the Titanic arrives in China

China is building the life size replica of the Titanic ship, but it will not be a ship destined for sea navigation, but it will be an attraction of the burgeoning Chinese theme park industry. 

Chinese investor Su Shaojun, perhaps one of the biggest fans of the ship and the film, announced “We are building a museum of the Titanic.” 

The ship was ironically renamed the Unsinkable Titanic.                                                                            

The replica of the Titanic will have a length of meters and will be the main attraction of the Romandisea theme park, located in the Chinese province of Sichuan and, which will soon be open to the public. Guests can also spend the night on board the ship for maximum of 2000 yuan (approximately £ 254.00).                                                        

The Titanic will be docked in the waters of a river, even if it will not be seaworthy, equipped with a working steam engine to revive the same sensations for guests. The imitation actually involves the realization of every aspect of the original: from the cabins, to the door handles, to the famous staircase that led to the luxury guest room.

 Well, that's an amazing project, isn't it?  What do you say? What about a cruise on the Unsinkable Titanic? See you there! ;-) 

Alessia, 4scB