Prayers and silence mark Titanic centenary

Cruise ship passengers and crew have said prayers at the spot in the North Atlantic where the Titanic sank 100 years ago with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

Early today, passengers lined the decks of MS Balmoral, which has been retracing the route of the doomed voyage.

After a moment of silence, three floral wreaths were cast onto the waves as the ship's whistle sounded in the dark.

The Titanic, the world's largest and most luxurious ocean liner, was traveling from England to New York when it struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912. It sank less than three hours later, with the loss of more than 1,500 of the 2,208 passengers and crew.

A century on, events around the globe are marking a tragedy that retains its grip on the world's imagination.

AP