Central Titanic News

With news an Australian billionaire is planning to build a full life-size replica of the Titanic, could it mean work here for businesses in the Midlands?

Many items on the original ship were designed and made in the region including beds in Birmingham, china in Derby and the anchor in the Black Country.

Plans to build a full life size replica of the Titanic by mining tycoon Clive Palmer were revealed in New York yesterday.

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• World
• Titanic

Mining magnate Clive Palmer says Titanic II will mostly sail between Southampton and New York.

Work is due to start later this year and her maiden voyage is planned in November 2016. Our transport correspondent Mike Pearse reports.

• UK
• Titanic
• Clive Palmer

To deviate from regulations which had been drawn up by the Advisory Committee of Ships' owners and approved by my department would leave me without support.

"I might be shifted as suggest to me by owners if I enforced my views as to efficiency"

• UK
• Titanic
• Stoke-on-Trent

The most damning documents in the archive relate to Captain Clarke's visits and inspections of Titanic on Thursday 4th, Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th April.

They give a detailed account of the lifeboat drills, tests and an inventory of the distress signals and equipment kept on-board which bizarrely included only six life buoys - a staggering statistic considering Titanic could accommodate over 3,000 souls.

"Most controversially he states that he wanted 50% more lifeboats on board, suggestions ignored by the White Star Line.

• UK
• Titanic
• Stoke-on-Trent

Notes warning the Titanic required more lifeboats were not even presented to the inquiry into the disaster.

The notes were written by Stoke-on-Trent born Captain Maurice Clarke the board of trade safety and emigration official who inspected the Titanic before it set sail.

Leading auctioneers of Titanic memorabilia, Henry Aldridge and Son, will put the notes on sale during their final auction this year. They said they are estimated to fetch £20,000-£30,000.

• UK
• Titanic
• Stoke-on-Trent

Seventy percent of the Titanic's furnishings were produced in the Midlands, its captain, Edward Smith came from Hanley, and the anchor was cast in the Black Country.

Now private papers have emerged a century on, that show it could have been a very different ending for the ship of dreams

Private papers from the man responsible for making sure the Titanic was safe to sail have emerged that show he demanded 50% more lifeboats but was pressurised by the White Star Line into backing down.

The documents have come to light a century after 1,500 people perished when the Royal Mail Steamer Titanic sank into icy waters during her maiden voyage on April 15 1912.

• UK
• Titanic
• Stoke-on-Trent

A service of remembrance has been held for the 1,500 passengers and crew of the Titanic who died after she struck an iceberg. Among the victims Birmingham businessman William Edward Hipkins.

The Titanic was captained by Edward Smith from Hanley. He'd been due to retire after the voyage.

• UK
• Stoke
• Titanic