BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A smoldering coal fire and the attempt to control it through the voyage may have led to the sinking of the Titanic 92 years ago, reported China Radio International on Monday.

    Engineer Robert Essenhigh of American Ohio State University came up with this theory.

    He says it's important to rule out the reason for speed put forth in the movies: to set a speed record.

    According to published records the Titanic is built for comfort, not speed.

    So if there is a reason for the speed, it had to be something important ¨C like a fire in the coal bunker that needed to be kept under control and then put out as soon as the ship reached port.

    The standard technique for controlling and eliminating such fires on steamships was to increase the rate at which the coal was being removed from the bunker and put into the steam engine boiler in order to increase the rate of draw-down of the coal pile.

    But all that shoveling makes for a lot of steam, resulting in the need to increase the steaming rate and quicker cruising. Enditem

(Text: CRIENGLISH.com; Photo Source:www.marinersinternational.com)