Titanic Base

08/28/2026

One of the most terrifying situations on the Titanic.

08/27/2026

THE LAUNCH OF RMS TITANIC — MAY 31, 1911

RMS Titanic was launched at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast on May 31, 1911.

The launch took place at around 12:13 p.m., when Titanic was released from the slipway and entered the River Lagan. Unlike a modern ship launch, the event was relatively simple. Titanic was launched without her engines, funnels, and most of her interior fittings installed**.

Approximately 22 tons of soft soap and tallow were used to help lubricate the slipway as the 46,000-ton hull moved into the water.

Around 100,000 people gathered to watch the launch. Afterward, Titanic was towed to a fitting-out berth, where workers spent the next several months installing her engines, boilers, funnels, electrical systems, interiors, and other equipment.

Titanic was completed in early 1912 and departed Southampton on April 10, 1912, on her maiden voyage to New York.

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

then and now

08/24/2026

The scene reflects an old maritime belief that rats could sense danger before people did. Rats living aboard ships often stayed in lower, enclosed areas, where they could be exposed to flooding, vibrations, smoke, or changes in their surroundings before passengers noticed them.

CAN RATS SENSE A SINKING SHIP? 🧐

08/23/2026

Millvina Dean was just nine weeks old when RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, making her the youngest passenger aboard the ship.

She traveled in Third Class with her parents, Bertram and Georgetta Dean, and her older brother, Bertram Jr. The family was emigrating from England to **Wichita, Kansas**, where they planned to start a new life.

When Titanic sank, Millvina, her mother, and her brother escaped in Lifeboat No. 10. Her father did not survive the disaster.

Millvina grew up in Southampton and did not fully understand her connection to Titanic until she was about eight years old. In later life, she became involved in Titanic-related events and was frequently interviewed about her family's experience.

She died on May 31, 2009, at the age of 97, becoming the last surviving passenger of RMS Titanic.

08/23/2026

Titanic's massive propellers are made from manganese bronze, a copper-based alloy that is far more resistant to corrosion than the ship's iron and steel structure.

Based on their material and the much slower corrosion of bronze in deep seawater, a rough estimate would place their complete loss well beyond the year 2500, and potentially much later.

08/23/2026

After RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, several ships were sent into the North Atlantic to search for the victims.

The CS Mackay-Bennett left Halifax on April 17 and recovered 306 bodies. Other vessels, including the Minia, Montmagny, and Algerine, continued the search. In total, about 337 bodies were recovered, while more than 1,000 were never found.

The recovered bodies were brought to Halifax for identification. Officials recorded clothing, jewelry, tattoos, and personal belongings to help establish identities. Some victims were claimed by their families and transported elsewhere, while others were buried in Halifax.

A total of 150 Titanic victims are buried in Halifax: 121 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, 19 at Mount Olivet Cemetery, and 10 at Baron de Hirsch Cemetery. Many of the graves at Fairview remain unidentified.

The recovery and burial process continued for several weeks after the sinking, creating a lasting connection between Titanic and the city of Halifax.

08/23/2026

After Titanic sank, Lowe transferred survivors from his lifeboat to other boats so he could return to the wreck site and search the water. He later rescued several people and helped survivors from Collapsible A, which was partially flooded and drifting in the sea.

Meanwhile, wireless operator Jack Phillips continued sending distress messages as the situation became critical.

Lifeboats 13 and 15 were launched close together. As No. 15 was being lowered, it came dangerously close to landing on No. 13 below. The crew of No. 13 quickly rowed away, narrowly avoiding a collision.

At around 2:00 a.m., White Star Line chairman J. Bruce Ismay entered Collapsible C as it was being lowered from the starboard side.

Ismay survived the sinking, but his decision to enter a lifeboat later became one of the most controversial aspects of the Titanic disaster.

08/22/2026

Titanic tragic comparison - before and after - so sad