Welcome to another bonus episode of Calm History, an extra treat for my Soak Plus members.

Now, unlike my other Titanic series called Titanic Survival Story, which tells the experience

of one passenger, this Titanic 360 bonus series has been

weaved together from multiple perspectives. You'll hear information gathered from many passengers,

officers, crew members, and investigators.

Let's begin.

Early in 1908, officials of the White Star Company announced that they would eclipse all previous records in shipbuilding with a vessel of staggering dimensions.

The result was the Titanic.

The keel was laid in the summer of 1909 in Belfast and launched on May 31, 1911.

The full preparation and outfitting of the ship was completed in February 1912 at a cost of

$10 million.

The Titanic was commanded by Captain E.J. Smith, the White Star Admiral.

The Titanic had 11 decks and was divided into numerous compartments, separated by 15 bulkheads.

The anchors weighed 15 and a half tons each, and each link in the anchor chain,

weighed 175 pounds. The solid plates of steel of the ship were held together by 3.5 million rivets, which totaled

about 1,500 tons of rivets.

She had an average speed of 21 knots

and could accommodate

2,500 passengers and 860 crew.

Not only was the Titanic

the largest steamship afloat, but it was also the most luxurious.

She was equipped with a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a hospital with an operating room, and a grill, and a palm garden. Elaborately furnished cabins

...