Mark Chirnside
@markchirnside.bsky.social
Maritime Historian focusing on the great White Star and Cunard liners of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries: www.markchirnside.co.uk
My PRONI lecture this year discussed ‘Mutiny on the Olympic’. markchirnside.co.uk/mutiny-on-th...
September 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
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...
September 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/article-from...
September 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
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...
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/
markchirnside.co.uk/captain/
September 1, 2025 at 6:54 AM
A ship’s captain had many issues to deal with, as Smith’s experience in 1910 shows.
markchirnside.co.uk/captain/
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/the-perils-o...
August 5, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Today’s blog warns of the perils of AI, with examples of inaccurate claims about Oceanic and Britannic.
markchirnside.co.uk/the-perils-o...
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...
July 31, 2025 at 7:09 AM
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...
July 25, 2025 at 6:20 AM
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-...
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-did-the-...
July 18, 2025 at 6:31 AM
This Friday’s FAQ discusses the enclosure of part of the A deck promenade.
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-did-the-...
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-did-the-...
This Friday’s FAQ discusses a question which often comes up about Titanic’s design.
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-oly...
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-oly...
July 11, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This Friday’s FAQ discusses a question which often comes up about Titanic’s design.
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-oly...
markchirnside.co.uk/faq-were-oly...
July 4, 2025 at 7:05 AM
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.
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.
July 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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.
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/presentation...
June 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
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...
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/presentation...
June 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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...
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
markchirnside.co.uk/reflections-...
#Titan #Titanic
May 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
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
markchirnside.co.uk/reflections-...
#Titan #Titanic
Celtic survived a mine encounter in 1917, then survived being torpedoed in 1918!
markchirnside.co.uk/surviving-th...
markchirnside.co.uk/surviving-th...
May 24, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Celtic survived a mine encounter in 1917, then survived being torpedoed in 1918!
markchirnside.co.uk/surviving-th...
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...
April 30, 2025 at 7:17 AM
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...
April 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/presentation...
April 17, 2025 at 7:49 AM
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...
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-...
markchirnside.co.uk/on-a-sea-of-...
April 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
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-...
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/thomas-andre...
April 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Thomas Andrews makes yet another appearance. The advice atttibuted to him seems sound! 👍
markchirnside.co.uk/thomas-andre...
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/titanic-soci...
April 3, 2025 at 6:21 AM
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...
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...
markchirnside.co.uk/article-from...
April 2, 2025 at 6:32 AM
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...
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...
March 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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...
Willem Piek's meticulous notes, handwritten in Dutch for the Holland America Line, provide fascinating details of what it was like to sail on Olympic. markchirnside.co.uk/a-voyage-on-...
February 23, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Willem Piek's meticulous notes, handwritten in Dutch for the Holland America Line, provide fascinating details of what it was like to sail on Olympic. markchirnside.co.uk/a-voyage-on-...
Why was Olympic’s construction abandoned?
Read about her here! markchirnside.co.uk/oceanics-unb.... #oceanic #olympic #titanic
Read about her here! markchirnside.co.uk/oceanics-unb.... #oceanic #olympic #titanic
February 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Why was Olympic’s construction abandoned?
Read about her here! markchirnside.co.uk/oceanics-unb.... #oceanic #olympic #titanic
Read about her here! markchirnside.co.uk/oceanics-unb.... #oceanic #olympic #titanic