April 14, 2012 | By Jason Buckland, MSN Travel
Biggest Titanic myths exposed

The ‘unsinkable ship’

Titanic, unsinkable ship (© CP Photo)
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  • Titanic myths (© David Lefranc/ABACAPRESS.com)
  • Titanic, unsinkable ship (© CP Photo)
  • Captain Edward Smith (© Library of Congress)
  • binoculars (© David Lefranc/ABACAPRESS.com)
  • Titanic, mirage, haze (© CP Photo)
  • Titanic, iceberg (© COPYRIGHT© 2012 RMS TITANIC, INC; Produced by AIVL, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
  • Titanic wreckage (© COPYRIGHT© 2012 RMS TITANIC, INC; Sonar mosaic developed by Remus Operations Group (WHOI) and Waitt Institute)
  • SOS, Titanic (© CP Photo)
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One of the more damning scenes from James Cameron's "Titanic" occurs when Kate Winslet's on-screen mom looks up and remarks: "So, this is the ship they say is unsinkable." In fact, claims the Titanic was indestructible have been greatly exaggerated over time.

Before it sailed in 1912, it was not widely believed that the Titanic was unsinkable, and in fact a White Star Line (owner of the RMS Titanic) promotional item claimed that the ship was simply "designed" to be unsinkable "as far as it is possible to do so." In truth, the widespread notion that the Titanic was unsinkable came from a comment made the day after the tragedy to The New York Times by Philip A.S. Franklin, then vice-president of White Star's holding company. "I thought her unsinkable ... I do not understand it," Franklin said.

* Video: Titanic explorer reflects on finding the wreckage

* The true story of the Titanic's last day

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