One of only six remaining lifejackets from Titanic is on display in Belfast
There were 3,500 life jackets on the RMS Titanic when the famous liner struck an iceberg 110 years ago.
Today only six remain, and one of these was displayed on Titanic Belfast to mark the anniversary of the world’s most famous ship.
The Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912. A hundred years later, the Titanic opened in Belfast as a famous tourist attraction, telling the story of the White Star Line ship and the city in which it was built.
“Having this life jacket here on Titanic Belfast is really special,” said Managing Director Judith Owens, adding that it was “a unique and very emotional opportunity for the public to see a piece of history in real life”.
The life jacket was made from canvas and cork by Fosbery and Co Ltd and is described as ‘in fair condition with all the original ties still attached’.
It was recovered from the ship’s wreckage by Robert Edwards, Quartermaster of the Cable Ship Mackay-Bennett, the first of four ships chartered by the White Star Line to search for bodies after the sinking.
Since opening in 2012, Titanic Belfast has welcomed more than six million visitors
It’s said to be the first time it’s on public display on the island, and visitors don’t have to pay the £21.50 (€28.10) Titanic Belfast admission fee to see it, either.
The life jacket is on view in the Grand Atrium free of charge until Sunday April 24th.
A recent report by Deloitte Northern Ireland revealed that Titanic Belfast has generated an estimated £430m (€507m) in direct spend in Northern Ireland since opening 10 years ago.
Since 2012, it has welcomed nearly 6.5 million visitors from 145 countries.
But, show current accounts In the 12 months to March last year, it saw sales plummet 92 per cent or £15.8m (€18.9m) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It marks the recent anniversary of the ship’s sinking with ‘A Night to Remember’ (£15pp), a living history tour, on 14 April.
Guests will hear the story of Titanic “through the eyes of those whose lives have been shaped by her voyage,” they say, before attending a candlelight ceremony on the former Harland & Wolff Slipways in Belfast at 11.40pm.
This time marks the exact moment when titanic hit the iceberg.
https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/one-of-only-six-remaining-life-jackets-from-titanic-goes-on-display-in-belfast-41531002.html One of only six remaining lifejackets from Titanic is on display in Belfast
