description RMS Titanic Overview
RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line and was one of the largest ships afloat at the time of its maiden voyage. On April 15, 1912, the vessel struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean and sank, leading to the deaths of approximately 1,500 passengers and crew due to a shortage of lifeboats. The disaster prompted significant changes to maritime safety regulations, including the establishment of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in 1914. The wreck was discovered in 1985 by a team led by Robert Ballard.
insights Ranking position
RMS Titanic ranks #1 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, ahead of SS Lusitania.
help RMS Titanic FAQ
Why did Titanic sink after hitting an iceberg?
The collision opened several adjacent compartments along the starboard side to the sea. Titanic could remain afloat with a limited number flooded, but water spilled progressively over the compartment bulkheads.
Why were there not enough lifeboats for everyone aboard Titanic?
Titanic carried 20 lifeboats, enough for only about half the people aboard at full capacity. The arrangement still met the outdated British regulations then based largely on a ship's tonnage rather than its passenger capacity.
Where is the Titanic wreck now?
The wreck lies in the North Atlantic at a depth of about 3,800 meters. Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel led the expedition that located it in 1985.
Did Titanic break in half before reaching the seabed?
Survivor accounts differed, but the discovered wreck confirmed that the ship separated into bow and stern sections. The two major pieces rest hundreds of meters apart within a large debris field.
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