Chocolate Mania

07/29/2025

Before and after - manual wire rope reel used on the RMS Titanic.

Function:
This reel stored and dispensed steel wire rope, which was used for various purposes, such as securing cargo, mooring, and operating equipment on the ship. The hand-crank mechanism allowed crew members to pull out or retract the cable as needed.

Image : OceanGate + Vasilije Ristovic

07/29/2025

Before and after - Titanic Forecastle Deck

Red arrow : This cargo winch was used for handling cargo and equipment. It helped raise and lower heavy loads into the ship's cargo holds. The winch was steam-powered, with large wheels and drums to control ropes or chains.

Yellow arrow : This is a manual wire rope reel used on the RMS Titanic. This reel stored and dispensed steel wire rope, which was used for various purposes, such as securing cargo, mooring, and operating equipment on the ship. The hand-crank mechanism allowed crew members to pull out or retract the cable as needed.

Image : OceanGate + Vasilije Ristovic

07/29/2025

efore and after - capstan and fairlead (guide roller) from Titanic's mooring system.

Function:
1. Capstan (winch system) – The large green device with spoked wheels is used to control ropes or anchor chains. It serves to:
- Pull in or release mooring ropes when docking.
- Raise or lower the anchor.
- Manage steel cables used in ship operations.

2. Fairlead (rope guide) – The hollow rollers help guide ropes or cables, preventing tangling or friction against the ship's structure.

This system was crucial for docking, undocking, and securing the ship at port. Titanic had multiple capstans at the bow and stern to assist in these operations.

Image : OceanGate + Vasilije Ristovic

07/28/2025

07/28/2025

SS United States funnel

07/28/2025

Before and after - Titanic's boilers
Titanic's boilers were a critical part of the ship's engineering, providing the steam power needed to propel the massive vessel. The ship was equipped with 29 boilers housed in six boiler rooms, containing a total of 159 coal-fired furnaces. These boilers powered Titanic's reciprocating steam engines and turbine engine, which collectively drove the ship's three massive propellers.

Each boiler measured 15 feet 9 inches in diameter and was constructed from steel, designed to handle the immense pressures required to maintain the ship's speed of up to 21 knots. During the voyage, the boilers consumed approximately 600 tons of coal per day, a task managed by a team of over 170 firemen and trimmers who worked tirelessly in sweltering conditions.

Remarkably, during the sinking on April 15, 1912, several of Titanic's boilers exploded as water flooded the boiler rooms, contributing to the ship's rapid descent. Some of these boilers were later discovered during dives to the wreck, serving as haunting reminders of Titanic's once-mighty engineering.

07/27/2025

SS United States Anchor

07/27/2025

Endurance was the three-masted barquentine in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed for the Antarctic on the 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The ship, originally named Polaris, was built at Framnæs shipyard and launched in 1912 from Sandefjord in Norway. When one of her commissioners, the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache, went bankrupt, the remaining one sold the ship for less than the shipyard had charged – but as Lars Christensen was the owner of Polaris, there was no hardship involved.

The ship was bought by Shackleton in January 1914 for the expedition, which would be her first voyage. A year later, she became trapped in pack ice and finally sank in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica on 21 November 1915. All of the crew survived her sinking and were eventually rescued in 1916 after using the ship's boats to travel to Elephant Island and Shackleton, the ship's captain Frank Worsley, and four others made a voyage to seek help.

The wreck of Endurance was discovered on 5 March 2022, nearly 107 years after she sank, by the search team Endurance22. She lies 3,008 metres (9,869 ft; 1,645 fathoms) deep, and is in "a brilliant state of preservation".[1] The wreck is designated as a protected historic site and monument under the Antarctic Treaty System.

07/27/2025

SS United States before and after

07/27/2025

The SS Andrea Doria was an Italian ocean liner operated by the Italian Line from 1953 until its tragic sinking in 1956. On July 25, 1956, while sailing off the coast of Nantucket, USA, the ship collided with the MS Stockholm in dense fog. Despite having advanced radar technology, miscalculations by both vessels led to the disaster.

The impact caused severe damage to Andrea Doria, and it began to list heavily to one side. Fortunately, one of the most successful maritime rescue operations in history saved 1,660 out of 1,706 passengers and crew. However, 46 people lost their lives. The ship sank the following morning, making it one of the most famous maritime disasters of the 20th century. Today, the wreck of Andrea Doria remains a challenging site for deep-sea divers.

07/27/2025

The light fixtures on the RMS Titanic were designed in an Edwardian style, reflecting the ship's luxury and elegance. Chandeliers, wall sconces, and ceiling lamps illuminated the first-class areas, while simpler fixtures were used in second and third class.

The ship used electric lighting, a modern innovation at the time, powered by four 400 kW steam-driven dynamos. Many of these fixtures can still be seen in Titanic’s sister ship, RMS Olympic, and in recovered artifacts from the wreck.

Image : James Cameron

07/26/2025

One of the most fascinating discoveries from the RMS Titanic wreck site is the stacked porcelain plates found on the ocean floor. These plates, still neatly arranged, likely fell from a storage cabinet or shelves when the ship broke apart and sank. The plates, often bearing the White Star Line logo, were part of the ship’s fine dining service, used in first-class and second-class dining areas.

The near-perfect stacking of the plates is a result of the gentle settling of debris after the shipwreck. Over time, sediment and marine life have covered much of the wreck, but these plates have remained remarkably intact, offering a haunting glimpse into the past. Many of these recovered dishes are now displayed in museums and Titanic exhibitions around the world.