BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUP TRAVEL EDITOR

Titanic Belfast is thrilled to announce the arrival of a remarkable new artefact: an original lifejacket worn by one of the ship’s survivors.

This unique piece of history offers a fascinating glimpse into the past and the incredible stories of those who experienced the disaster.

Visitors can now see this lifejacket up close and explore its significance within the context of Belfast’s rich maritime heritage. Come and experience this compelling addition to our exhibits!

Titanic Belfast has welcomed the arrival of a new artefact: an original lifejacket that was worn by one of the ship’s survivors who escaped in Emergency Lifeboat No. 1, Laura Mabel Francatelli.

The lifejacket is on loan for a limited time from Henry Aldridge and Sons, the world’s leading Titanic memorabilia auctioneers, until 5th April, before it goes to auction on 18th April.      

The lifejacket, which is one of the very few remaining original lifejackets that are identifiable to the person who wore it, will be free for the public to view and displayed alongside a wider temporary exhibition. 

Women of Titanic: Survival, Influence & Legacy, located on the Level 1 Apex of the world-leading visitor attraction, coincides with last Sunday’s International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day this weekend.

The exhibition celebrates the fascinating stories of women who travelled aboard the ship.     

The lifejacket was worn by first-class passenger, Laura Mabel Francatelli who was travelling as secretary to fashion designer Lady Duff-Gordon and her husband Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, where they were en-route to Chicago for business.

Their rescue aboard Emergency Lifeboat No. 1 gained some notoriety, as the boat launched with just 12 occupants despite having a capacity for many more.

Today, the lifejacket bears the signature of Francatelli, alongside those of fellow survivors including Leading Fireman Charles Hendrickson, Fireman George Taylor and Able Seaman James Horswill. 

Francatelli’s personal accounts of the disaster have been used by historians to shed light on what happened on the infamous night.  

Eimear Kearney, Commercial Director of Titanic Belfast, comments, “At Titanic Belfast, we are committed to telling the human stories behind the world’s most famous ship, and this lifejacket is an extraordinarily powerful piece of that history.

“We are proud to be able to provide our guests access to an artefact that was a crucial part of the survival journey, creating a direct and moving connection to those who lived through the tragic sinking. 

“The lifejacket will act as a reminder of the resilience and humanity of the people on board, and we are honoured to offer visitors the opportunity to experience it here in Belfast before it goes to auction.”  

 Andrew Aldridge, Managing Director of Henry Aldridge and Sons, said: “We are delighted to share this rare and poignant lifejacket with Titanic Belfast and its visitors.

“We hope guests value the unique opportunity to see this remarkable piece firsthand and to reflect on the powerful journey it represents — both for the ship and its survivors.”  

Titanic Belfast is Northern Ireland’s most popular visitor attraction, located on the spot where the famous ship was designed and launched, just a short walk from Belfast City Centre.

The iconic six-floor building brings the story of the ship to life using immersive technology combined with original maritime heritage.   

 For further information on the display or to book tickets for the Titanic Experience, visit titanicbelfast.com . 

 About Titanic Belfast  

Titanic Belfast, the world’s most authentic visitor experience, is located on the spot where the famous ship was designed and launched. 

It offers a unique perspective on maritime history and heritage. 

This iconic six-floor building features the self-guided Titanic Experience, which brings the story of RMS Titanic to life through immersive technology and original maritime heritage.  

The building also houses temporary exhibits, NI’s premier conference and banqueting suites, education and community facilities, catering outlets and a Titanic Store with an on-site basement car park.  

Since opening in 2012, Titanic Belfast has firmly established itself on the local, national and international stage, having welcomed almost 10 million visitors from over 145 different countries and was previously voted the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the prestigious World Travel Awards. 

It has contributed £430 million in additional visitor spend to the Northern Ireland economy in its first ten years and has inspired £60 million of wider heritage preservation across the Quarter.

The building is owned by the charity, Maritime Belfast Trust, established to preserve and promote Belfast’s maritime heritage, and which appointed the private operator, Titanic Belfast Ltd.

In 2023, Titanic Belfast completed a £4.7m investment refreshment programme, fully funded by the Titanic Belfast Gallery Refreshment Fund, established when the building opened as part of the commercial operator agreement and held by Maritime Belfast Trust.

TBL International is the management company which operates Titanic Belfast Ltd and SS Nomadic.