Mark Chirnside

Thanks Paul, much appreciated.

Happy New Year!

Read here about plans for 2026 and the new book: markchirnside.co.uk/happy-new-ye...

The RMS Olympic's Christmas menu for 1911.

Thank you! 👍

On the night of Sunday 14 December 1924, the White Star liner Majestic (1922) was running through heavy seas en route to New York when a sound ‘like a cannon shot’ rang out.

markchirnside.co.uk/faq-a-sound-...

My PRONI lecture this year discussed ‘Mutiny on the Olympic’. markchirnside.co.uk/mutiny-on-th...

Introducing 'Olympic & Titanic: Triumph and Disaster'! markchirnside.co.uk/olympic-tita...

All too often, sensationalist claims and conspiracy theories grab headlines in relation to Titanic. However, evidence based analysis is important. Today’s post highlights a number of false claims made almost two decades ago and explores the facts.

markchirnside.co.uk/article-from...

A ship’s captain had many issues to deal with, as Smith’s experience in 1910 shows.
markchirnside.co.uk/captain/

Today’s blog warns of the perils of AI, with examples of inaccurate claims about Oceanic and Britannic.

markchirnside.co.uk/the-perils-o...

Today’s blog discusses some common claims about Adriatic (1907) and HAPAG’s Amerika (1905). markchirnside.co.uk/adriatic-ame...

People often ask if third class was virtually empty on the eastbound crossing. This Friday’s FAQ explores that question! markchirnside.co.uk/faq-was-thir...

This Friday’s FAQ discusses the enclosure of part of the A deck promenade.

markchirnside.co.uk/faq-did-the-...

I'm just gonna say it: writing non-fiction is hard. Don't cancel me!

This Friday’s FAQ discusses a question which often comes up about Titanic’s design.

markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-oly...

The first ‘FAQ Friday’ this month answers this question!

markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-tit...

Click here to read even more of Thomas Andrews’ Olympic maiden voyage notes!

markchirnside.co.uk/article-from...

I am grateful to many researchers for sharing information and supporting with my interpretation of either the handwriting or a particular detail. Any errors are mine alone.

Cunard’s directors and engineering staff found out what they could about Olympic while she was being built and noted some features worth considering as Aquitania’s design was finalised. My September 2022 presentation at PRONI provides ‘a brilliant insight’.

markchirnside.co.uk/presentation...

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no evidence that Harland & Wolff recommended that more lifeboats should be fitted on Olympic and Titanic.

markchirnside.co.uk/presentation...

I do not claim to have any special knowledge or expertise concerning Titan. However, I have studied Titanic‘s construction and I think some of the parallels being drawn between the two disasters are unwarranted.

markchirnside.co.uk/reflections-...

#Titan #Titanic

Celtic survived a mine encounter in 1917, then survived being torpedoed in 1918!

markchirnside.co.uk/surviving-th...

It’s widely believed that construction of the three ‘Olympic‘ class ships was made possible by the use of American money – resources from either J. P. Morgan or IMM. The truth is the opposite: IMM was supported by White Star. markchirnside.co.uk/olympic-tita...

The penultimate post of ‘Titanic Month’ highlights the need for an evidence based analysis of history using primary sources. markchirnside.co.uk/titanics-cen...

Building the largest ships in the world wasn’t simply a question of the shipbuilding process itself. There were all sorts of other practical challenges to consider, including financing them, insuring them and expanding the port and docking facilities...

markchirnside.co.uk/presentation...

I am honoured to have been invited to participate in the On A Sea of Glass and Part-Time Explorer 113th Anniversary Titanic Livestream

markchirnside.co.uk/on-a-sea-of-...

Thomas Andrews makes yet another appearance. The advice atttibuted to him seems sound! 👍

markchirnside.co.uk/thomas-andre...

Many people see inaccurate claims made on social media and mistakenly treat them as credible. Today’s update explores inaccuracies in a popular meme about Thomas Andrews.

markchirnside.co.uk/titanic-soci...

Back in 2005, I published previously unknown information about improvements to Titanic based on Olympic. Continuous improvement from one ship to another was standard H&W practice, but this didn’t stop conspiracy theorists misrepresenting these findings!

markchirnside.co.uk/article-from...

All too often, sensationalist claims are made in the media about Titanic and the disaster which befell her. The mundane reality is that Titanic was a well built and designed ship, which sank because she sustained extraordinary damage! markchirnside.co.uk/steam-splend...