Santander witnesses the discovery of the Titanic's baths.

At noon today, October 30th, the exhibition hall of the Cantabrian Maritime Museum was filled with guests. A press conference preceded the events related to the presentation of the reproduction of the first and second-class bathrooms of the Titanic.

The press conference was opened by Jesús Ferreiro, president of the Titanic Foundation, who highlighted the importance of this reproduction that has been added to the exhibition. Titanic: The Reconstruction. This exhibition is being finalized at the Science Park in Granada. Ferreiro thanked the Santander City Council for their collaboration in bringing this exhibition to Santander in July 2016.

José López, manager of Bathco, began his remarks by stating that it has been “an honor for us and for the city of Santander“ to have Princess Elettra Marconi with us, and on the other hand, he indicated that “it is an honor that the Titanic Foundation has thought of our company with all the expertise we have in our sector and has set its sights on Bathco, a company from Cantabria.”.

Next, the Director General of Culture, Marina Bolado, took the floor and highlighted that “Bathco has today shown once again the quality of its products, but also that it is involved in sports with our Bathco Independiente rugby team and in various charitable causes. These are examples of what a modern corporate culture should be, one that generates wealth and is committed to its citizens.”.

Closing the press conference, the Mayor of Santander, Íñigo de la Serna, indicated that Bathco “is one of those companies that inspire and generate stimulus and positive energy, which is very necessary at this time. Of course, it has a very clear idea of what corporate social responsibility is, which is demonstrated in well-known support such as that of rugby and other sports clubs, and an interest in other areas and disciplines such as culture.” He recalled the inauguration last May of the Bathco Atelier, where Cantabrian artists paint sinks, turning them into works of art.

Next, the president of the Titanic Foundation surprised all attendees by announcing “two new personalities joining the Foundation's hall of fame.” First, a sculpture by Begoña Soldevilla was presented to Princess Elettra Marconi, and then, taking the stage, the princess did the same with Ernesto Páramo, director of the Granada Science Park.

To conclude, the general secretary of the Titanic Foundation, Rafael Lobeto, announced that “at the next board of trustees meeting of our Foundation, the appointment of a new honorary trustee will be proposed, who will immediately become part of the Titanic Foundation’s hall of fame, like our friends today.” The person who will be proposed “is a lover of the Titanic’s history who has committed to supporting the Foundation from the very beginning” and will be José López Cortés, manager of Bathco. To this, the honoree responded with immense gratitude.

Following this, presenter Cristina Solar introduced Princess Elettra Marconi, daughter of Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of radiotelegraphy, a technology that enabled many of the Titanic's crew to survive the most publicized sinking in history. Additionally, the princess recalled her father's arrival in Santander on July 24, 1928, aboard the yacht “Elettra,” which anchored off the coast of the Real Club Marítimo de Santander.

At 1:30 PM, event guests boarded a catamaran that took them in front of the Gamazo dock to witness what would happen next. Both from land and sea, many people gathered to get a front-row view of the unveiling of the Titanic's washbasin reproductions. Men and women dressed in early 20th-century attire experienced the moment as if they were authentic Titanic passengers, music enveloped attendees, and giant screens showed footage of the event. Alongside the wreckage of the sunken tugboat San Martín, a team of divers submerged to retrieve the pieces that would later be displayed at the CEAR de Vela along with furniture, faucets, towels, and a bathrobe, all faithfully reproduced to what passengers found in their cabins in 1912.

After disembarking, the restaurant "La Posada del Mar" became the ship's main dining room; the glassware and tableware, stamped with the flag of the White Star Line, the British shipping company that built the Titanic, featured the menu that was served on the last night it was offered on board. Representatives from public and private institutions, friends, the media, and Bathco personnel were able to enjoy what was considered exquisite over a century ago and which we have confirmed remains so.

As could be expected, the grand finale was provided by the music from Titanic. The C.E.A.R. de Vela hosted a concert by the young Santander orchestra conducted by Hugo Carrio, accompanied by the Halane choir, directed by César Marañón, and bagpipes from the “La Estela” Cultural Association. The more than seventy musicians played and sang along to the images that appeared on a giant screen. The different elements combined to silence the audience until the final note, which was met with a huge ovation from all attendees.

Thanks to the collaboration of the Santander City Council, the Port Authority, the Government of Cantabria, the Maritime Museum, Mourosub, and other public and private organizations, we were able to enjoy this spectacular event in the city of Santander. 

They can watch the event at http://livestream.com/holastream/titanic

Photographs: Luz Fierro