History of Titanic in Timeline

The RMS Titanic, a British ocean liner, sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Operated by the White Star Line, the ship carried approximately 2,224 passengers and crew, of whom around 1,500 perished. The passengers included wealthy individuals and emigrants seeking new lives in the US and Canada. The sinking ranks as one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters. The tragedy led to significant reforms in maritime safety regulations and left a lasting impact on popular culture.

June 1907: RMS Oceanic First Departure

In June 1907, the RMS Oceanic first departed from Southampton along with the Teutonic, Majestic, and the new Adriatic on the Southampton-New York run.

1907: Captain Smith's Statement on Ship Safety

In 1907, Captain Smith stated he "could not imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that."

1907: White Star Line Established Express Service

In 1907, White Star Line established its "Express Service" from Southampton on England's south coast.

1907: Discussion between Ismay and Morgan

In mid-1907, J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line, and American financier J.P. Morgan discussed the creation of the Olympic-class ocean liners.

July 1908: Approval of Titanic's Design

On July 29, 1908, Harland and Wolff presented the drawings for the Olympic-class ships to J. Bruce Ismay and other White Star Line executives, and Ismay approved the design and signed three "letters of agreement" two days later, on July 31, authorising the start of construction.

December 1908: Keel Laid Down for Olympic

On December 16, 1908, the keel for the Olympic was laid down first, preceding the Titanic.

March 1909: Keel Laid Down for Titanic

On March 31, 1909, the keel for the Titanic was laid down, following the Olympic.

May 1911: Titanic Launched

On May 31, 1911, the Titanic was launched at 12:15 pm in Belfast, Ireland, with 100,000 onlookers attending the event.

June 1911: Olympic Replaces Teutonic

In June 1911, the Olympic entered service and replaced the Teutonic, which was then transferred to the Dominion Line's Canadian service.

September 1911: Collision of the Olympic

In September 1911, the Olympic was in a collision, causing a temporary pause in the work of the Titanic due to the need to repair the Olympic.

1911: White Star Dock Opened

In 1911, the deep-water dock at Southampton, known as the "White Star Dock", was specially constructed to accommodate the new Olympic-class liners and opened for service.

1911: RMS Olympic was rammed

RMS Olympic was rammed in 1911.

January 1912: Titanic's Insurance Coverage

In January 1912, the hulls and equipment of Titanic and Olympic were insured for £1,000,000 per ship through Lloyd's of London and London Marine Insurance. The premium for Titanic was £7,500 for the term of one year.

April 1912: Titanic's Maiden Voyage and Passenger Embarkation

In April 1912, Titanic's maiden voyage commenced. Passengers, including First, Second, and Third Class, boarded at Southampton. Third Class passengers underwent inspection for potential entry refusal to the United States.

April 1912: Sinking of the Titanic

In April 1912, the British ocean liner RMS Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15th after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, resulting in approximately 1,500 deaths.

April 1912: Titanic's Sea Trials

On April 2, 1912, the RMS Titanic's sea trials began, just eight days before its departure from Southampton on its maiden voyage.

May 1912: Recovery of Bodies from Collapsible A

In mid-May 1912, RMS Oceanic recovered three bodies over 200 miles from the site of the sinking who were among the original occupants of Collapsible A.

June 1912: Guglielmo Marconi's Evidence to the Court of Inquiry

On 18 June 1912, Guglielmo Marconi gave evidence to the Court of Inquiry regarding the telegraphy. Its final report recommended that all liners carry the system and that sufficient operators maintain a constant service.

August 1912: Corsican Struck an Iceberg

In August 1912, the liner Corsican struck an iceberg in the Atlantic, severely damaging the bow. Because the weather was hazy at the time, speed had been reduced to 'dead slow', which limited further damage.

December 1912: Titanic's Voyage Schedule

The RMS Titanic's maiden voyage was to be the first of many trans-Atlantic crossings between Southampton and New York with the entire schedule of voyages planned through December 1912.

1912: Titanic's Cargo

In 1912, the RMS Titanic carried a variety of cargo, including furniture, foodstuffs, and a 1912 Renault Type CE Coupe de Ville motor car, along with passengers' baggage.

1912: Titanic Part of White Star Line's Fleet

In 1912, the RMS Titanic was part of White Star Line's fleet, which consisted of 29 steamers and tenders.

1912: Radio Act Passed and Barque Scotia Chartered

In 1912, the United States government passed the Radio Act of 1912 requiring 24/7 radio operation on passenger ships. Also in 1912, the Board of Trade chartered the barque Scotia to act as a weather ship.

1912: National Coal Strike in the UK

In the spring of 1912, a national coal strike in the UK disrupted shipping schedules and caused many passengers to postpone their travel plans, affecting the RMS Titanic's initial booking for its maiden voyage.

1913: Formation of the International Ice Patrol

In 1913, the International Ice Patrol, an agency of the U.S. Coast Guard, was formed and internationally funded to monitor icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean.

May 1914: New "Rules for Life Saving Appliances" Passed

In May 1914, new "Rules for Life Saving Appliances" were passed by the Board of Trade in Britain as a result of the Titanic disaster.

June 1914: New Rules Applied at Meeting of Steamship Companies

In June 1914, the new "Rules for Life Saving Appliances" that were passed in May were applied at a meeting of British steamship companies in Liverpool.

1914: White Star Line Petition to the Supreme Court

In 1914, White Star Line petitioned the United States Supreme Court, which ruled in its favour, limiting the scope of damages survivors and family members were entitled to.

December 1915: Settlement Agreed to by Claimants

In December 1915, a settlement was agreed to by 44 of the claimants. $500,000 was set aside for the American claimants, $50,000 for the British, and $114,000 to go towards interest and legal expenses.

1955: Publication of 'A Night to Remember'

In 1955, the first historically accurate book about the Titanic disaster, "A Night to Remember", was published.

1958: Release of 'A Night to Remember' Film

In 1958, the British film "A Night to Remember" was released and is still widely regarded as the most historically accurate movie portrayal of the Titanic's sinking.

1969: Queen Elizabeth 2 Registered in Southampton

In 1969, the Queen Elizabeth 2 was one of the first ships registered in Southampton when introduced into service by Cunard.

1974: New Version of Safety of Life at Sea Convention Adopted

In 1974, a completely new version of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which was originally passed in 1914, was adopted.

September 1985: Successful Expedition to Find Titanic

On 1 September 1985, a Franco-American expedition led by Jean-Louis Michel and Robert Ballard successfully found the wreck of the Titanic.

1985: Discovery of the Titanic Wreck

In 1985, the wreck of the Titanic was discovered, revealing that the ship had broken in two. Previously, it was believed that Titanic sank in one piece.

1995: Queen's Island Renamed Titanic Quarter

In 1995, Queen's Island, where the Titanic was built, was renamed Titanic Quarter.

1997: Filming of James Cameron's Titanic

During the filming of James Cameron's "Titanic" in 1997, the replica of the Grand Staircase was ripped from its foundations by the force of the inrushing water on the set.

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1997: Influence of Titanic Film on Tourism

In 1997, the film "Titanic" influenced the Northern Ireland Tourism Board to recognize the potential for exploiting the global interest in Titanic as a tourist attraction.

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2001: UNESCO Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage

In 2001, the wreck of the Titanic falls under the scope of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. This means that all states party to the convention will prohibit the pillaging, commercial exploitation, sale and dispersion of the wreck and its artefacts.

2004: Photos taken by Robert Ballard during an expedition

In 2004, photos were taken by Robert Ballard during an expedition, showing a boot and a coat close to Titanic's stern, indicating possible human remains.

2004: Northern Ireland Tourism Board's Strategic Framework for Action

In 2004, the Northern Ireland Tourism Board's Strategic Framework for Action recognized the potential for exploiting global interest in Titanic as a tourist attraction.

2006: Abandonment of Replica Ship Project

In 2006, a replica ship project by South African businessman Sarel Gaus was abandoned.

2006: Estimated Deterioration of the Titanic Wreck

In 2006, it was estimated that within 50 years the hull and structure of Titanic would eventually collapse entirely, leaving only the more durable interior fittings of the ship intermingled with a pile of rust on the sea floor.

2007: Tourism Board Focus on Titanic

In 2007, it was still recognized that the significance of and interest in Titanic globally was not being fully exploited as a tourist attraction

May 2009: Death of Millvina Dean, Last Survivor

In May 2009, the last living survivor, Millvina Dean, who was the youngest passenger on board, died at the age of 97.

April 2012: Release of Photos Showing Possible Human Remains

On 16 April 2012, the day after the 100th anniversary of the sinking, photos were released showing possible human remains resting on the ocean floor near the Titanic's stern.

2012: Announcement of Titanic II Project

In 2012, Australian businessman Clive Palmer announced a project known as the Titanic II to build a replica ship.

2012: Opening of Titanic Belfast Visitor Attraction

In 2012, the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction opened on the site of the shipyard where Titanic was built.

2012: Centenary Marked by Events and Commemorations

In 2012, the centenary of the Titanic disaster was marked by plays, radio programmes, parades, exhibitions, special trips to the sinking site, commemorative stamps, and coins.

2014: Benefit Concerts for Disaster Victims

In 2014 dollars, opera stars and members of the Metropolitan Opera raised $300,000 in benefits for victims of the disaster by giving special concerts.

November 2016: Construction of Titanic Replica Commenced

In November 2016, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd commenced construction to build a replica ship of the Titanic for use in a resort.

2016: Titanic Belfast visitor attraction visited by nearly 700,000 visitors

In 2016, the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction was Northern Ireland's second most visited tourist attraction with almost 700,000 visitors.

August 2018: Groups Vying for Titanic Relics

In August 2018, several groups, including Titanic Belfast and the National Maritime Museum, were vying for the right to purchase the 5,500 Titanic relics owned by the bankrupt Premier Exhibitions.

October 2018: Hedge Funds Purchase Titanic Relics

On 17 October 2018, The New York Times reported that a consortium of three hedge funds had paid US$19.5 million for the Titanic relic collection.

2018: Claim totals in 2018 USD

In 2018 USD, the claims totaled $419 million.

August 2019: Submersible Crashed Into the Wreck

In August 2019, a two-person submersible vehicle crashed into the wreck. The strong currents pushed the submersible into the wreck, leaving a red rust stain on the submersible's side.

2022: Replica Ship Project Reportedly Incomplete

As of 2022, the Titanic replica ship project was reportedly only 25% complete.

2022: Data Captured over the Summer

Over the course of a six-week expedition in the summer of 2022, some 715,000 3D images were captured using two submersibles, named Romeo and Juliet.

May 2023: Creation of Titanic "Digital Twin"

In May 2023, Magellan Ltd. announced that they had created a "digital twin" of the Titanic, showing the wreckage in a level of detail that had never been captured before. The company mapped "every millimetre" of the wreckage as well as the entire three-nautical-mile debris field.

June 2023: Titan Submersible Went Missing

On 18 June 2023, the submersible Titan, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, went missing in the North Atlantic Ocean. On 22 June 2023, the operating company announced the loss of the crew due to a catastrophic implosion, and six days later, the U.S. Coast Guard announced its discovery of “presumed human remains”.

2023: Cost Consideration of Olympic-Class Ships

In 2023, the cost for the first two Olympic-class ships would be approximately £370 million, with an additional five percent profit margin.

2023: Value of La Circassienne au Bain

In 2023, the estimated value of the oil painting La Circassienne au Bain by French artist Merry-Joseph Blondel, which was lost on the Titanic, was $2,300,000.

July 2024: RMS Titanic Inc. Expedition

On 15 July 2024, RMS Titanic Inc. held their first expedition to the wreck in 14 years, examining its status in high-resolution photography, searching for on-site artefacts, and placing a memorial plaque for Nargeolet.