The Story of the Costa Concordia

Why did the Titanic sink?

Activity 1: Comprehension Check (True or False)

Read the statements below and decide if they are True (T) or False (F) based on the video.

  1. The Titanic cost about 7.5 million dollars to build at the time.
  2. The ship was almost as long as three football fields.
  3. The ship was originally designed to have 20 lifeboats, but they increased it to 64.
  4. A fire broke out in a coal bunker before the ship even arrived in Southampton.
  5. Captain Smith immediately changed the ship’s course as soon as he received the first ice warning.
  6. The lookouts in the Crow’s Nest had binoculars to help them spot obstacles.

Activity: Fill in the Blanks

Read the sentences below and fill in the missing words using the options from the word bank.

Word Bank:

unsinkable | lifeboats | binoculars | bulkhead | fire | mirage

  1. People believed the Titanic was completely ____________ because of its new safety features and the survival of its sister ship.
  2. To make the ship’s deck look more spacious, the number of ____________ was cut down from 64 to just 20.
  3. A ____________ broke out in a coal bunker in Boiler Room five even before the ship arrived in Southampton, which weakened the steel rear wall.
  4. The lookouts in the Crow’s Nest did not even have ____________ with them to help spot obstacles in the dark.
  5. An optical illusion called a ____________ haze bent the light on the horizon and helped camouflage the iceberg.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lTddAsdqyz4&is=I8oypoaQdPkG36J9

“Willow Wind news” https://share.google/LLx8R91JHA5yseoqF

Blas de Lezo: a naval hero.

Christopher Columbus

WORKING AT SEA

Image

ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER?

Watch this video from the book SpeakOut, by PEARSON, and see if the people taking prefer working alone or in a team.

MYSTERIES OF THE SEA

🎧 Listening Activity: The Mystery of the Mary Celeste

Questions:

1. When was the Mary Celeste discovered drifting deserted in the Atlantic Ocean?

  • A) December 1872
  • B) November 1890
  • C) January 1855

2. In what condition was the ship found by the crew of the Dei Gratia?

  • A) It was completely damaged and sinking after a heavy storm.
  • B) It was in seaworthy condition with its cargo largely intact, but completely abandoned.
  • C) It had run aground on a hidden coral reef near the Azores.

3. How many people—including crew members and family—were reported missing from the ship?

  • A) 3 people
  • B) 10 people
  • C) 25 people

4. Which of the following personal items or supplies was notably missing from the ship?

  • A) The captain’s navigational instruments and the ship’s lifeboat
  • B) All of the barrels of commercial alcohol in the hold
  • C) The ship’s kitchen supplies and fresh water barrels

5. What is considered the primary reason why the exact fate of the crew remains a mystery?

  • A) The ship’s logbook was destroyed by fire before anyone could read it.
  • B) No distress signals were ever sent, and the crew was never seen or heard from again.
  • C) Modern scientists refuse to investigate historical shipwrecks.

Safety equipment

Here you have a bilingual glossary on communication on board

The Regulatory Framework Behind Maritime Safety
The design, installation, and use of safety devices on ships are governed by international conventions and classification society rules. The primary regulatory documents include:

SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) – governs ship safety, firefighting, lifesaving appliances, and emergency procedures

LSA Code (Life-Saving Appliances Code) – specifies construction and performance of safety equipment

ISM Code (International Safety Management) – mandates safety management systems, including drills and maintenance of safety devices

Read this article to know more.

WHY EVERY DETAIL MATTERS