Titanic Ocean Liner Company Collapses
Owner of Belfast shipyard that built Titanic enters administration.
Harland & Wolffthe owner of the Belfast shipyard responsible for the construction of the Titanic, is set to enter administration this week due to unsuccessful efforts to secure new funding, marking a setback for the UK government’s aspirations for shipbuilding in the region.
On Monday, the company announced its insolvency and indicated that it would appoint administrators from Teneo within the week. The company acknowledged that redundancies at the publicly listed holding entity, Harland & Wolff Group, are unavoidable, yet expressed optimism that the companies managing its shipyards may be acquired.
It further stated that these essential operations will:
“continue to trade as usual”
for the time being. In July, the company reported that approximately 1,600 individuals were employed across its various operations, which also encompassed shipyards in Devon and Scotland, a proposed gas storage facility in Northern Ireland, and a now-defunct ferry service to the Isles of Scilly. This development represents the latest chapter in a series of challenges faced by the Belfast shipyards, which have seen a significant decline from their peak employment of around 20,000 workers. The city’s skyline remains marked by the iconic twin yellow cranes, Samson and Goliath, erected in the 1970s. The yard is historically noted for constructing the Titanic liner, which tragically sank during its inaugural voyage in 1912.
The RMS Titanic was a British ocean liner that tragically sank on April 15, 1912after colliding with an iceberg during its inaugural journey from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States. Out of approximately 2,224 individuals on board, 1,496 lost their lives, rendering this event one of the most catastrophic peacetime maritime disasters involving a single vessel.
Operated by the White Star Linethe Titanic was transporting some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, alongside numerous emigrants from the British Isles, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe who were in pursuit of a new beginning in the United States and Canada. This calamity captured widespread public attention, prompted significant reforms in maritime safety standards, and left an enduring impact on popular culture.
What is the real story of the Titanic?
Famous Titanic Passengers
- John Jacob Astor IV – Victim As the richest passenger aboard the Titanic, real estate developer John Jacob Astor IV was worth $87 million
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Benjamin Guggenheim – Victim. Benjamin Guggenheim was an American businessman, who was a wealthy member of the Guggenheim family. Patron of modern art. Although he led the life of a successful smelting magnate.
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Cosmo and Lucy Duff-Gordon – Survivors – Lady Duff-Gordon, who was a prominent British fashion designer.
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Isidor and Ida Straus – Victims – Co-owner of Macy’s department store and a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives in New York’s 15th district.
The Ship
The RMS Titanic was a British ocean liner that tragically sank on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during its inaugural journey from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States. Out of approximately 2,224 individuals on board, 1,496 lost their lives, rendering this event one of the most catastrophic peacetime maritime disasters involving a single vessel.
The wreck of the Titanic—which was discovered on September 1, 1985—is located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, some 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) underwater. It is approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) from Newfoundland, Canada.
RMS Titanic was actually owned by an American. John Pierpont (JP) Morganwhose company was the controlling trust and retained ownership of the White Star Line. He also owned US Steel, General Electric, as well as global financial services firm JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Size
269.1 metres – the length of the Titanic (882 feet 9 inches).
825 tons – the amount of coal used per day.
10,000 – the approximate number of lamp bulbs used on the ship.
BuildingTheTitanic
$7,500,000 – the cost of building the RMS Titanic.
2 – the number of workers killed during the build.
20 – horses needed to transport the main anchor.
The Lifeboats
64 – the number of lifeboats the Titanic was equipped to carry.
20 – the number of lifeboats she was actually carrying.
28 – the number of people on board the first lifeboat, which had a capacity of 65 people.
The Passengers
3,547 – the maximum number of people the Titanic could carry.
2,223 – the number of people on board (passengers and crew).
13 – the number of honeymooning couples on the voyage.
The Sinking
6 – the number of warnings of icebergs the Titanic received before the collision.
160 – the minutes it took the Titanic to sink after hitting the iceberg (2 hours and 40 minutes).
-2°C – the temperature of the sea water in the area where Titanic sank.
