27/09/2009

Singapore F1 2009

2009 Singapore Grand Prix

The 2009 Singapore Grand Prix (formally the 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on 27 September 2009. The 61-lap race was the fourteenth round of the 2009 Formula One season. It was the second Singapore Grand Prix to be part of a Formula One Championship and the tenth Singapore Grand Prix overall. It was also the second Formula One race to be held at night.

The race was won by McLaren-Mercedes driver and reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Toyota's Timo Glock finished second and 2008 race winner Fernando Alonso took third position, making this the only race of the season with neither a Brawn nor a Red Bull driver on the podium. This was also the last race of 2009 for Glock, as he was injured during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix and was replaced by test driver Kamui Kobayashi. Heikki Kovalainen scored his last World Championship points at this race, as did second-placed Glock.

As a consequence of the race, Championship leader Jenson Button extended his lead by one point finishing in fifth, one position ahead of Brawn teammate and Championship rival Rubens Barrichello. Fellow rival Sebastian Vettel had been challenging Hamilton for the lead before a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane scuppered his strategy.


Singapore Grand Prix

The Singapore Grand Prix is a motor racing event which forms part of the Formula One World Championship. The event takes place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and was the inaugural night race and first street circuit in Asia designed for Formula One races.

The original Singapore Grand Prix was held at Thomson Road from 1966 to 1973, before returning to the calendar in 2008 at Marina Bay. Fernando Alonso won the inaugural Formula One edition of the renewed Grand Prix, driving for the Renault team amid controversial circumstances, when it emerged a year later that his teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash on purpose by senior team management to bring out the safety car at a time chosen to benefit Alonso. The race itself was also notable for being the 800th Formula One World Championship race since its inception in 1950, and the first ever Formula One race held at night.

Since its inception, Marina Bay has been known for featuring at least one safety car in every race edition, with a total of 24 safety car deployments as of 2023. The Singapore Grand Prix has been considered to be one of the most challenging and unique tracks on the Formula One calendar. Sebastian Vettel has the most wins on the track, with five Singapore Grand Prix victories. In 2022, a contract extension was announced which will put the race on the Formula One calendar until at least 2028.


Revised Formula 1 circuit layout from 2023, track to no longer include Bay Grandstand

The Marina Bay Street Circuit will look a little different next year when Formula 1 returns to Singapore. Updates will be made to the track layout due to the upcoming redevelopment of The Float @ Marina Bay into NS Square, the organisers of the Singapore Grand Prix said on Wednesday (Oct 19).

Works on NS Square are scheduled to start in March next year and are expected to be completed by end-2026. They were due to begin in March 2022, but were rescheduled to start a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The track will no longer include the Bay Grandstand while the redevelopment works are under way," the race organisers said.

From the next race, the revised circuit layout will be reduced to 4.928km and the number of laps increased to 63. Turns 16 to 19 will be realigned into a 397.9m straight, bringing the circuit's number of turns to 19. The official lap record for the current layout of the Singapore Grand Prix is 1:41.905, held by Danish driver Kevin Magnussen.


F1 Renews Singapore Grand Prix In 7-Year Deal

Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix is slated for at least seven more years as part of a new deal that runs from 2022 to 2028.

Singapore’s estimated annual cost for hosting Formula 1 is $100 million, according to Channel News Asia. Host organizers Singapore GP Pte. Ltd. and the Singapore Tourism Board reportedly paid $35 million per Grand Prix in the previous contract, which ran from 2017 to 2021.

The race has reportedly generated more than $1.1 billion in tourism receipts, according to event organizers. This year’s event will take place on Oct. 2.

As part of the deal, the hosts have agreed to a number of changes:
  • The events will switch to renewable energy sources and focus on recycling.
  • Singapore will conduct a sustainability audit to ensure it’s following Formula 1’s sustainability goals — Formula 1 aims to be net zero carbon by 2030.
  • The hosts said they will also focus on community relations, diversity, and health and safety.


Motor racing-F1 extends Singapore Grand Prix contract until 2028

The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar until at least 2028, the sport and race organisers said on Thursday, after agreeing a fresh seven-year deal. The event, which was cancelled for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to take place on Oct. 2 as part of a record 23-race calendar this year. It will be the first grand prix under the new seven-year deal.

"Singapore holds a special place on the F1 calendar, and this extension is part of our long-term commitment to continue to grow the sport in Asia," Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali said in a statement. "The Marina Bay Street Circuit hosted the first night race in F1 history in 2008, and Singapore has continued to thrill fans, teams, and drivers ever since." Singapore has established itself as one of Formula One's most glamorous and popular events since it made its debut in 2008. The race is staged in the heart of the city-state, with cars driving around a floodlit street track against a backdrop of glittering skyscrapers, while spectators are entertained by headline music acts.

Partly funded by the government, it has played a key role in boosting tourism to Singapore. The race has generated more than S$1.5 billion in incremental tourism receipts and drawn more than 550,000 unique international visitors to Singapore since its debut, according to organisers. The 2019 race, won by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari, drew a crowd of about 268,000 over the whole weekend, the event's second highest, organisers said as they looked forward to welcoming fans back this year. “The Singapore Formula One race continues to be a strong focal point for tourists, global events and business meetings,” said Singapore’s Minister for Transport S Iswaran.

F1 extends Singapore GP until 2028
Race has been on the series' calendar since 2008 & absent from 2020 and 2021 calendars due to pandemic

Formula One has announced a contract extension with the Singapore Grand Prix for seven years. The new agreement will run from 2022 until 2028.

The Singapore Grand Prix first joined the Formula One calendar in 2008, however it was absent from the schedule in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to RacingNews365, the previous contract saw the series receive US$35 million per Grand Prix from the host organisers, Singapore GP Pte Ltd (SGP) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Channel News Asia pegged the overall cost of Singapore hosting its Formula One race at US$100 million a year.

The latest hosting contract has seen the organisers commit to improving the sustainability of the event. This includes switching to renewable energy sources, using recyclable materials and increasing recycling efforts. In addition, a sustainable audit will be conducted, ensuring that the Singapore Grand Prix is fully in line with Formula One’s own sustainability goals. SGP and STB have also pledged to connect with the local community, seek to promote diversity amongst event volunteers, as well as place greater emphasis on the health and safety of all attendees.


Marina Bay Street Circuit
  • When was the track built? The Marina Bay Circuit arrived on the scene in 2008. A street track with the city's famous skyline as its spectacular backdrop, the initial circuit plan by Herman Tilke was refined by KBR Inc, while the event has quickly established itself as one of the standouts on the F1 calendar.
  • When was its first Grand Prix? In 2008, Singapore had the honour of hosting the first night-time race in F1 history. The Grand Prix – the 15th round of that season – proved a huge hit with the teams and drivers, while Renault’s Fernando Alonso claimed a controversial victory.
  • What’s the circuit like? The 5.063km Marina Bay Circuit is one of the most physically demanding on the calendar, its bumpy street surface coupled with humid conditions giving the drivers plenty to think about. With 23 corners, they are working the wheel a lot, too, around the high-speed lap – the physical stress causing them to lose as much as 3kg over the course of a race. The circuit also boasts some of the most unique features of any track on the F1 calendar, including Turn 18, which actually sees the drivers pass underneath a grandstand.
  • Why go? If you want to see Singapore at its best, there’s no better time to do so than when Formula 1 arrives in the heart of this buzzing city. Get the lay of the land by taking a ride on the Singapore Flyer, a giant Ferris wheel overlooking the track’s permanent pits complex, then get stuck into Singapore’s incredible bar and restaurant scene. Cocktail fanatics should also make a pilgrimage to the famous Raffles Hotel – the proper home of the Singapore Sling (non-alcoholic versions are available!)
  • Where is the best place to watch? Get yourself comfy in the grandstand located at Turn 1, which offers spectacular views as the cars accelerate into the first corner, before braking hard and whipping through Turns 2 and 3. You’ll get a great view of the start too – expect to see plenty of sparks fly as the drivers blast off the line.

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23/08/2009

The 58th Miss Universe 2009

Miss Universe 2009
Miss Universe Stefanía Fernández of Venezuela

Miss Universe 2009 was the 58th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Imperial Ballroom in Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, The Bahamas on August 23, 2009.

At the end of the event, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela crowned Stefanía Fernández of Venezuela as Miss Universe 2009. This marks the first and so far, the only time in Miss Universe history that a country has won for two consecutive years.

Contestants from 83 countries and territories competed in this year's pageant. The competition was hosted by Billy Bush and Claudia Jordan; Bush last served as host during Miss Universe 2005. Heidi Montag, Flo Rida, Kelly Rowland, and David Guetta performed in this year's pageant. The competition also featured the debut of the new Diamond Nexus Crown. For the first time ever, fans are able to vote between three designs for the new crown. The fans voted for the Peace crown, which is set with 1,371 gemstones, weighing a total of 416.09 carats or 83.218 g. It is made with an alloy that contains 544.31 grams of 14k and 18k white gold as well as platinum. The crown also featured synthetic rubies to represent the main advocacy of Miss Universe which is HIV/AIDS education and awareness. It is considered to be an eco-friendly crown due to its synthetic stone materials


Miss Universe 1952 - The first Miss Universe pageant
Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952

Miss Universe 1952 was the first Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 28 June 1952.

At the end of the event, actress Piper Laurie crowned Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952. It was the first victory of Finland in the history of the pageant.

Contestants from 30 countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Russell. The competition featured the Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown, which was previously owned by a Russian czar. The crown was said to have 1,535 diamonds, 300 carats, and was valued at $500,000.

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15/07/2009

The Straits Times 164th dating back to 1845

The Straits Times: Origins and Background
Reproduction of the very first issue of The Straits Times on July 15, 1845

With a history dating back to 1845, The Straits Times is the most widely read newspaper in Singapore with a reported combined print and digital readership of 1.34 million in 2014. It is currently the flagship English-language daily newspaper of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH), one of Asia’s leading media organisations with commercial interests in newspapers, book publishing, radio, television, new media, real estate, online classifieds, events and exhibitions, and education.

How The Straits Times was first conceived remains in dispute. The account given by Charles Burton Buckley – an amateur historian and a prominent resident of colonial Singapore – claims that the idea for establishing the newspaper came from an Armenian merchant, Marterus Thaddeus Apcar, who had employed an editor and ordered printing equipment from England for the purpose. Unfortunately, the intended editor died suddenly and Apcar went bankrupt before the arrival of the equipment. As a favour to Apcar, fellow Armenian Catchick Moses bought over the printing press and launched the newspaper in 1845 with Robert Carr Woods, an English journalist from Bombay, as the editor. Historian Constance Mary Turnbull disputed this account, arguing that it was unlikely that an Armenian merchant would have wanted to set up an English-language newspaper. In addition, she argued that given the limited size of the potential readership, it was unlikely that one would have wanted to start a newspaper to rival The Singapore Free Press, which was more established. However, it has also been postulated that Apcar wanted to set up a printing press to publish books in Armenian.

The newspaper was originally known as The Straits Times, and Singapore Journal of Commerce, a weekly paper first published on 15 July 1845. The first issue consisted of eight folio pages. The content comprised advertisements, an editorial, local news as well as foreign news extracted from overseas newspapers. The newspaper operated from its offices at No. 7 Commercial Square (present-day Raffles Place). With no more than 100 subscribers paying $16 a year, the newspaper struggled to survive. Moses withdrew from the business and left it to Woods in 1846. Timeline:
  • 15 Jul 1845: First issue of The Straits Times, and Singapore Journal of Commerce is published, with Robert Carr Woods as editor.
  • 1858: Newspaper becomes an afternoon daily and is renamed Singapore Daily Times.
  • 16 Feb 1869: Fire razes Straits Times office premises and printing equipment.
  • 1883: Daily issue is renamed The Straits Times.
  • 1888: Arnot Reid is appointed editor.
  • May 1900: Newspaper becomes a joint-stock company.
  • 1908: Alexander William Still is appointed editor.
  • 1928: George William Seabridge is appointed editor.
  • 1931: Newspaper purchases a rotary press.
  • 1937: Alfred Charles Simmons is appointed general manager.
  • 1942–45: Newspaper stops production during the Japanese Occupation.
  • 7 Sep 1945: First issue of the newspaper published after the occupation.
  • Mar 1950: Newspaper becomes a public limited company.
  • 1954: Printers go on a two-week strike.
  • 3 Apr 1958: New office at Times House begins operatons.
  • 1959: Newspaper headquarters relocates to Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore premises become a branch office.
  • 1966: Printers and journalists go on a five-day strike.
  • 1971: Printers and journalists go on an eight-day strike.
  • 1973: Newspaper restructured into two companies: Straits Times Press (Singapore) and New Straits Times.
  • 1975: The Straits Times Press (1975) Ltd is incorporated.
  • 1982: S. R. Nathan is appointed executive chairman; SNPL is formed as a competitor to the Straits Times Group.
  • 1984: The Straits Times Press, SNPL and Times Publishing Bhd are merged to form SPH, a multiplatform media organisation.
  • 1988: Lim Kim San is appointed executive chairman of SPH.
  • 2002: SPH headquarters moves to Toa Payoh North.
  • 2015: The Straits Times celebrates its 170th anniversary.
  • Aug 2015: The Straits Times reaches a daily average circulation of 481,700.


The Straits Times

The Straits Times (also known informally by its abbreviation ST) is a Singaporean daily English-language newspaper owned by the SPH Media Trust. Established on 15 July 1845, it is the most-widely circulated newspaper in the country and has a significant regional audience. The newspaper is published in the broadsheet format and online, the latter of which was launched in 1994. It is regarded as the newspaper of record for Singapore. Print and digital editions of The Straits Times and The Sunday Times had a daily average circulation of 364,134 and 364,849 respectively in 2017, as audited by Audit Bureau of Circulations Singapore. In 2014, country-specific editions were published for residents in Brunei and Myanmar, with newsprint circulations of 2,500 and 5,000 respectively.

The original conception for The Straits Times has been debated by historians of Singapore. Prior to 1845, the only English-language newspaper in Singapore was The Singapore Free Press, founded by William Napier in 1835. Marterus Thaddeus Apcar, an Armenian merchant, had intended to start a paper, hired an editor, and purchased printing equipment from England. However the would-be editor died abruptly, prior to the arrival of the printing equipment, and Apcar went bankrupt. Fellow Armenian and friend, Catchick Moses, then bought the printing equipment from Apcar and launched The Straits Times with Robert Carr Woods, Sr., an English journalist from Bombay as editor. The paper was founded as The Straits Times and Singapore Journal of Commerce on 15 July 1845.

The Straits Times was launched as an eight-page weekly, published at 7 Commercial Square using a hand-operated press. The subscription fee then was Sp.$1.75 per month. As editor, Woods sought to distinguish The Straits Times from The Singapore Free Press by including humour, short stories, and foreign news, and by making use of regular steamship services carrying mail that launched shortly before The Straits Times was launched. Historian Mary Turnbull disputes this account of The Straits Times' founding, saying that it was unlikely an Armenian merchant would have wanted to find an English-language newspaper, particularly given the presence of the more established Singapore Free Press. In September 1846, the paper was given to Woods outright because the press proved unprofitable to run and Moses was unable to sell it. The paper struggled with a lack of subscribers and newsworthy items to coverage. Woods covered the financial deficit by using the printing press for other projects, including the first directory of Singapore, The Straits Times Almanack, Calendar and Directory, published in 1846.


The Straits Times

The Straits Times is an English language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is the most widely-circulated and oldest surviving newspaper in Singapore. The paper was established on 15 July 1845 by Armenian businessman Catchick Moses and was originally known as The Straits Times and Singapore Journal of Commerce. The Straits Times is currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings. This particular edition of the Straits Times is significant as it is the first Straits Times edition of the 21st century.


Reflections on turning 170 today 15 Jul 2015
The paper was first published on 15 July 1845

There are no words to express my astonishment at receiving yesterday's copy of The Straits Times.

My immediate response on browsing through the bumper issue was to message my friends to get a copy before they ran out.

The 60-page special on the 170 years of The Straits Times ("Living History") was certainly a gift to all Singaporeans, and a timely one for the nation's 50th birthday.

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16/05/2009

Pink Dot 2009

Singapore gays in first public rally

Halfway across the world, as police moved in to break up a gay rights protest in Russia, another country known for being equally as restrictive on liberal ideals was holding its first gay rally undisturbed.

Some 2,500 pink-attired supporters of gay rights gathered in a park in Singapore on Saturday, to form a pink dot, which was photographed from a nearby building. The organisers of the event, pinkdot.sg, say the event was held to commemorate love in all forms and between people of every orientation. It came after Singapore loosened law on public gatherings last year. Currently any gathering can be held that does not touch on topics of race or religion. Multi-racial Singapore last saw race riots in the late 1960s.

The city-state still has a ban on homosexual sex that has been in force since its colonial days under the British even though many countries in the region, and the UK itself, have repealed the law. According to Jack Soh of pinkdot.sg, there was no overt political message being sent to the government. "It was not a protest or a political rally. The event was for Singaporeans in general - to affirm our respect for diversity and the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation. "We recognise that many Singaporeans are conservative... so we planned an inclusive event that would reach all Singaporeans, straight and gay," Mr Soh says.

read more

Pink Dot SG 2009

Pink Dot SG 2009 was held on 16 May, launched with a campaign video titled "RED + WHITE = PINK". It was Singapore's first public, open-air, pro-LGBT event and established the record at the time for the greatest turnout for a gathering at Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park since the venue's inception. The event was deemed a milestone for Singapore's LGBT community.[7]

Ambassadors of the event were local celebrities: actor Timothy Nga, actress Neo Swee Lin and radio DJ Rosalyn Lee.[8] During the event, formations of the words "LOVE" and "4All" were created by participants. The event concluded with the formation of the titular Pink Dot.[9]

The pioneer Pink Dot SG event was given extensive coverage in both international and local media.[9] Locally, The Straits Times and TODAY newspapers covered the event. However, reports regarding the number of attendees were inconsistent. Organisers estimated an attendance of 2,500, while The Straits Times reported a turnout of 1,000, and TODAY reported "at least 500". Internationally, the event was covered by the BBC[9] and the New York Times, with reports syndicated to publications around the world through wire services the Associated Press[10] and Agence France-Presse.


PHOTOS: SINGAPORE IS PINK DOT!

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15/04/2009

Remembering the Titanic 2009

Sinking of the Titanic
The sinking of the Titanic as depicted in Untergang der Titanic, a 1912 illustration by Willy Stöwer

The British passenger liner Titanic sank in the early morning hours of 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The largest ocean liner in service at the time, Titanic had an estimated 2,224 people on board when she struck an iceberg at around 23:40 (ship's time) on Sunday, 14 April 1912. Her sinking two hours and forty minutes later at 02:20 (ship's time; 05:18 GMT) on Monday, 15 April, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, making it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

Titanic received six warnings of sea ice on 14 April but was travelling at a speed of roughly 22 knots when her lookouts sighted the iceberg. Unable to turn quickly enough, the ship suffered a glancing blow that buckled her starboard side and opened six of her sixteen compartments to the sea. Titanic had been designed to stay afloat with up to four of her forward compartments flooded, and the crew used distress flares and radio (wireless) messages to attract help as the passengers were put into lifeboats. In accordance with existing practice, the Titanic's lifeboat system was designed to ferry passengers to nearby rescue vessels, not to hold everyone on board simultaneously; therefore, with the ship sinking rapidly and help still hours away, there was no safe refuge for many of the passengers and crew with only 20 lifeboats, including 4 collapsible lifeboats. Poor management of the evacuation meant many boats were launched before they were completely full.

The Titanic sank with over a thousand passengers and crew still on board. Almost all of those who jumped or fell into the sea drowned or died within minutes due to the effects of cold shock and incapacitation. RMS Carpathia arrived about an hour and a half after the sinking and rescued all of the 710 survivors by 09:15 on 15 April, some nine and a half hours after the collision. The disaster shocked the world and caused widespread outrage over the lack of lifeboats, lax regulations, and the unequal treatment of third-class passengers during the evacuation. Subsequent inquiries recommended sweeping changes to maritime regulations, leading to the establishment in 1914 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) which still governs maritime safety today.

Titanic

The RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship, sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic after sideswiping an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 lost their lives in the disaster. Titanic has inspired countless books, articles and films (including the 1997 Titanic movie starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio), and the ship's story has entered the public consciousness as a cautionary tale about the perils of human hubris.

The Titanic was the product of intense competition among rival shipping lines in the first half of the 20th century. In particular, the White Star Line found itself in a battle for steamship primacy with Cunard, a venerable British firm with two standout ships that ranked among the most sophisticated and luxurious of their time.

Cunard’s Mauretania began service in 1907 and quickly set a speed record for the fastest average speed during a transatlantic crossing (23.69 knots or 27.26 mph), a title that it held for 22 years. Cunard’s other masterpiece, Lusitania, launched the same year and was lauded for its spectacular interiors. Lusitania met its tragic end on May 7, 1915, when a torpedo fired by a German U-boat sunk the ship, killing nearly 1,200 of the 1,959 people on board and precipitating the United States’ entry into World War I.


REMEMBERING THE TITANIC
The R.M.S. Titanic departed from Southampton, England, for the first and only time on April 10th, 1912. The Titanic had nine decks with separate areas for first-class, second-class, and third-class passengers. There were close to 2,200 people aboard for the ship's maiden voyage.

One of the Greatest Maritime Tragedies in History.

On April 10, 1912, the R.M.S. Titanic left its port in Southampton, England, and began the transatlantic journey to New York City in the United States. Considered unsinkable, Titanic served as a luxury ocean liner for over 2,000 passengers and crew. On April 15, Titanic sank in just over two and a half hours after colliding with an iceberg.

More than one hundred years later, National Geographic Education marks the anniversary of one of the greatest maritime tragedies in history. From Titanic’s construction in Belfast, Ireland, to its discovery under icy waters by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Robert Ballard and oceanographer Jean-Louis Michel in 1985, the Titanic has long captivated the public mind. Use this collection of multimedia education resources to contextualize the anniversary for your students.


Timeline and Facts About the Titanic


On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage, sailing from Southampton, England, to New York City. Four days later the luxury liner struck an iceberg, and early the next day it sank, killing some 1,500 people. The tragedy captured the world’s imagination and made the Titanic an enduring legend.

Timeline:
  • On March 31, 1909, construction of the Titanic begins in Belfast, Ireland.
  • On May 31, 1911, the Titanic is launched, and later the fitting-out phase starts.
  • The maiden voyage begins on April 10, 1912, as the ship leaves Southampton, England.
  • On April 11, 1912, the Titanic makes its final European stop, at Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland.
  • On April 14, 1912, an iceberg is spotted at 11:35 PM, but it is too late to avoid a collision.
  • On April 15, 1912, at 12:15 AM the first distress signals are sent.
  • At 12:20 AM the Carpathia rushes toward the Titanic.
  • At 12:45 AM the first lifeboats are lowered.
  • At 2:18 AM the Titanic’s bow sinks.
  • At 2:20 AM the Titanic founders.
  • At 3:30 AM survivors are rescued by the Carpathia.
  • On September 1, 1985, the shipwreck is discovered by an expedition led by Robert Ballard.


Titanic: First ever full-sized scans reveal wreck as never seen before
The bow of the Titanic is still instantly recognisable even after so long underwater

The world's most famous shipwreck has been revealed as never seen before. The first full-sized digital scan of the Titanic, which lies 3,800m (12,500ft) down in the Atlantic, has been created using deep-sea mapping. It provides a unique 3D view of the entire ship, enabling it to be seen as if the water has been drained away.

The hope is that this will shed new light on exactly what happened to the liner, which sank in 1912.
  • 'Haunting' new footage of Titanic shipwreck
  • Shackleton's lost ship found after 107 years
  • The book that records all disasters at sea
More than 1,500 people died when the ship struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. "There are still questions, basic questions, that need to be answered about the ship," Parks Stephenson, a Titanic analyst, told BBC News. He said the model was "one of the first major steps to driving the Titanic story towards evidence-based research - and not speculation."

The Titanic has been extensively explored since the wreck was discovered in 1985. But it's so huge that in the gloom of the deep, cameras can only ever show us tantalizing snapshots of the decaying ship - never the whole thing. The new scan captures the wreck in its entirety, revealing a complete view of the Titanic. It lies in two parts, with the bow and the stern separated by about 800m (2,600ft). A huge debris field surrounds the broken vessel. The scan was carried out in summer 2022 by Magellan Ltd, a deep-sea mapping company, and Atlantic Productions, who are making a documentary about the project. Submersibles, remotely controlled by a team on board a specialist ship, spent more than 200 hours surveying the length and breadth of the wreck. They took more than 700,000 images from every angle, creating an exact 3D reconstruction.


Titan submersible implosion
MV Polar Prince departed St. John's, Newfoundland (1), on 16 June 2023, and arrived at the dive site (2) on 17 June 2023, where Titan was deployed and began its descent the next day

On 18 June 2023, Titan, a submersible operated by American tourism and expeditions company OceanGate, imploded during its descent in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 370 nautical miles (690 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, during a tourist expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic. The submersible contained Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate; Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a French deep sea explorer and Titanic expert; Hamish Harding, a British businessman; and Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, a Pakistani-British businessman and his son.

Communication with Titan was lost 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive, and authorities were alerted when it failed to resurface at the scheduled time later that day. After a search lasting nearly 80 hours, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) discovered a debris field containing parts of Titan, about 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bow of the Titanic. The search area was informed by the United States Navy's (USN) sonar detection of an acoustic signature consistent with an implosion around the time communications with the submersible ceased, suggesting the pressure hull had imploded while Titan was descending, resulting in the instantaneous deaths of all five occupants.

The search and rescue operation was conducted by an international team led by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), USN, and Canadian Coast Guard. Support was provided by aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Air National Guard, a Royal Canadian Navy ship, as well as several commercial and research vessels and ROVs. Numerous industry experts had raised concerns about the safety of the vessel. OceanGate executives, including Rush, had not sought certification for Titan, arguing that excessive safety protocols hindered innovation.

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