A ship named 'Gigantic'

Together with the passengers we are on board GIGANTIC, one of the wonders of our times, a result of supertechnical achievements. The voyage starts with the celebration of New Year 1951. the optimism and belief in progress and the future characterizes the happy passengers of the 50’s. the Captain: 2In front of us lies now a bright future”. The perfect and totally automatic techniques are so secure that even lifeboats are lacking. “Lifeboats would only lull the passengers into a false sense of security” says the Captain. The Chief Engineer: “there’s nothing new in putting the forces of nature at the service of mankind”. The Bar Drunkard is skeptical: “Life is a jenka-dance: two steps forward, one backwards”. The party is a success, when suddenly a red alarm glares on the control table of the computer room. The party is over and we awake in the 60’s. Far far way an iceberg is dimly observed. The Chief Engineer is fault-detecting after the first alarm, when the ship suddenly swerves heavily. The Father tries to calm his worried teenage daughter: “I myself helped to build this ship”. The Captain and the Chief Engineer explain that what happened actually never happened: “We’re still floating”. They must however admit that evacuation plans are on shore and that they are being worked on. 2but we have pills to maintain in the body-temperature should we fall into the water; they will be distributed if something happens”. The Shipowner explains that the blame can’t be put on him since he wasn’t responsible when the ship was constructed. The passengers become increasingly alarmed. In the video library the Bar Drunkard and passengers scrutinize the technical achievements applauded at the New Year’s party 1951 and what they led to. Later in the 70’s it is discovered that the iceberg is in collision course with GIGANTIC. The Shipowner demands that the speed be increased in order to permit GIGANTIC to pass before the iceberg, i.e. if the engines resist. The Daughter insists that the course must be changed. The Mother that the speed must be reduced. The Captain forswears himself of all responsibility and a referendum decision is taken for all on boarded. The TV-viewers are exhorted to vote on 23 March and the opening hours of the polling booths are shown.