‘I’ll never let you go, Jack. I’ll never let go”. I don’t think anyone here doesn’t recognize that line from a famous movie.
The blockbuster movie Titanic, starring actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo De Caprio, which brings to life the fictional characters of Rose and Jack, has sparked interest that has become obsessive about revealing the truths about the “unsinkable ship” to reveal how much of the movie was based on facts and how much is fiction.
Further studies were made to shed light on one of the most unforgettable disasters in history.
We know that the Titanic, the largest cruise ship in the world, sank on its first and last voyage after hitting an iceberg. Aside from that, we’ve also gathered some information to prove how majestic Titanic has been.
· 2,224 is the total number of passengers and crew on board the ship during its maiden voyage. The accident killed 1,500 people, making it one of the deadliest in maritime history.
· 1,178 lifeboats were carried on board the ship, barely enough for half of the passengers, most of whom are the richest people in the world.
· With a length of 250 meters, a height of 55 meters and a weight of about 40,000 tons, it is no wonder where the Titanic gets its name. Every day, 650 tons of coal are burned to power the 20 boilers and 162 furnaces. The ship is designed to be unsinkable, as it uses watertight compartments and watertight doors. Powerful radio transmitter is also readily available for use by passengers and ships.
Image Source: By FGO Stuart (1843-1923)
· $4300 is the price for a first class ticket for the Titanic in the year 1912 and $36 for the 3rd class ticket. First-class accommodation had a luxurious swimming pool, gym, Turkish bath, squash court, electric bath and Verandah Café. Third class accommodation, while not as grand as first class, is also the best at the time.
· The ship accommodated 883 First Class passengers, 614 in Second Class and 1,006 in Third Class, bringing her estimated capacity to 3,547.
10 April 1912, heading west to New York, she collided with an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. and collapsed less than 3 hours later.
· Saved the lives of many survivors, mainly women and children, with 20 lifeboats that can accommodate 47 people.
· An estimated 705 passengers have been rescued by RMS Carpathia just 2 hours after the Titanic sank. With the “women and children first” protocol, more women and children made up most of the survivors.
· In 1985, about 70 years after the sinking of the Titanic, the remains were first discovered on the seabed 12,125 meters deep, where thousands of artifacts have been recovered and displayed in museums.
· Contrary to the myths, there is no hidden wealth that sank with the ship. In fact, the only recorded cargo of La Circassienne au Bain by French artist Merry-Joseph Blondel was the most prized item recovered from the wreck.
While most romantic fools like me would like to believe the love story that circulated in the movie, we should know that “Jack” and “Rose” are not actual passengers aboard Titanic. Fiction or non-fiction, as disastrous as it was, the Titanic Incident established the 1914 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which is still in use today.