Secrets of the Lost Liners

The story of Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912, continues to fascinate. But the events that have unfolded since this tragic event are equally intriguing. This explorative documentary reveals how the cult of Titanic was born after she almost vanished from history and how the original discovery of the wreck was actually part of a CIA covert mission during the Cold War.

In recent years, cruise ships have grown larger and more lavish. One of the most extravagant was the Costa Concordia. The world watched in 2012 as, diverting from its route to perform a sail-by salute, the ship struck a rock formation. A huge gash in the side of the vessel caused the ship to founder and lives were tragically lost. In the age of modern navigation, how could this disaster happen?

The Italian cruise ship MS Achille Lauro became known as the world's most cursed ship. It faced a series of unfortunate and bewildering disasters over its short life. It suffered multiple collisions, a number of fires and various accidents. But the ship’s most notorious tragedy occurred when it was hijacked by PLO terrorists in 1985, that led to one of the most shocking events in maritime history.

The MTS Oceanos was a French-built, Greek-owned liner, that, in 1991, was cruising the coast off South Africa. After a heavy storm, the ship lost power when it suffered flooding in its engine room. Rather than help the panicking passengers, many of the crew, and even the captain, abandoned ship. It was down to the entertainment team to save those onboard. Who was responsible for the disaster?

The Empress of Britain was one of the most lavish cruise ships in maritime history, considered more spectacular than the Titanic. But it met with an equally dramatic and shocking demise. During World War II, it was called up for duty and soon entered an epic final battle with the German Luftwaffe and Nazi U-boats. It became the largest liner lost in the Second World War.

An art deco icon, the SS Ile de France ferried the rich and elegant between Europe and New York in the 1920s. She was considered one of the most beautiful liners in maritime history. During World War II, she served as a troop ship before having her glamorous fittings removed as she was turned into a floating prison. Her ignoble end saw her trashed and wrecked in a Hollywood disaster film.