The Titanic was one of the most infamous and tragic events in history. On April 15, 1912, it capsized in the North Atlantic after striking with an iceberg on its first journey from Southampton to New York. The calamity claimed the lives of almost 1500 individuals. But how much do you really know about this storied vessel? Here are some fascinating Facts About Titanic Ship that will astound you.
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Titanic was a technological marvel
The Titanic was not only the largest passenger ship of its time—it was the world’s largest moving, man-made object. Its steel construction was held in place by 3 million rivets weighing 1200 tons. The ship’s main anchor weighed 16 tons —roughly the same as 32 concert grand pianos—while each link in the anchor chains weighed 175 pounds.
The Titanic was built by a company called White Star Line. She was completed and ready for the ocean on March 31, 1912, after three years in construction in Belfast, Ireland. The ship has a pool, a gym, a sports court, a Turkish bath, a library, and a big staircase, among other things. It was made to be the nicest and most luxurious ship in the world.
The Titanic had four massive funnels, but only three of them were functional. The fourth one was added for aesthetic reasons and to make the ship look more impressive. There was also a radio telegraph device on the ship that could send and receive information from far away.
Titanic Ship had a lavish lifestyle
The Titanic had three classes of passengers: first, second, and third. Each class had its own dining rooms, lounges, and facilities. The first-class passengers enjoyed the most extravagant amenities, such as fine dining, elegant cabins, and a Parisian boulevard with shops and cafes.
Titanic first-class passengers had 20,000 beer, 1,500 wine, and 8,000 cigars. The last dinner served to first-class passengers at the Ritz Restaurant was a feast with ten sumptuous courses, featuring oysters, caviar, lobster, quail, salmon, roast duckling, and lamb.
The second-class passengers also had comfortable accommodations and decent food. They had access to a library, a smoking room, and an elevator. The third-class passengers had the most basic facilities, such as shared bathrooms and simple meals. They had their own dining room, but no lounge or recreation area.
Titanic had a fatal flaw
Despite its size, the Titanic’s fatal flaw was a lack of lifeboats. The ship carried only 20 lifeboats with a total capacity of 1178 people. This was far below the number of people on board: about 2200². The reason for this was that the White Star Line thought that lifeboats were only for emergencies and not for evacuation. They also wanted to avoid cluttering the deck with too many boats.
Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m on April 14, 1912, it caused a huge gash on its starboard side that flooded six of its sixteen watertight compartments. The ship was designed to stay afloat with up to four compartments flooded, but not six¹. The Titanic began to sink slowly at first, then faster as more water poured in.
The officers on board tried to send distress signals and alert nearby ships of their situation. They also started to load the lifeboats with women and children first. However, many of the lifeboats were launched before they were filled to capacity. Some passengers refused to leave the ship or did not believe it was sinking. Others were prevented from reaching the lifeboats by barriers between classes or by crew members who followed strict rules.
The Titanic sank at 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912. More than 1500 people died in the freezing water or on board the ship. Only about 700 people survived in the lifeboats or were rescued by other ships later.
Titanic Ship left a lasting legacy
The Titanic disaster horrified the whole globe and resulted in several reforms to marine safety. For instance, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was created in 1914 to define guidelines for the construction, outfitting, and navigation of ships. It also required that all ships have enough lifeboats for everyone on board and that they conduct regular drills.
The Titanic also inspired countless books, movies, documentaries, and museum exhibits. The ship’s wreck was found in 1985 by a group of explorers under the direction of Robert Ballard. Since then, several antiquities and individualized objects have been dug up from the ocean bottom and put on public display.
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The Titanic remains a fascinating and tragic story that captivates people of all ages and backgrounds. It is a reminder of the power and peril of human ambition, as well as the courage and compassion of those who faced the unthinkable.