The RMS Titanic remains one of the most meticulously documented maritime disasters in history, with records covering design blueprints, passenger lists, and official inquiries. Below are verified facts about the ship, its voyage, and its lasting impact on safety regulations and public memory.
From its status as the largest moving human-made object of its time to the advanced communication systems aboard, the Titanic combined ambition and technology in ways that continue to fascinate engineers, historians, and the public.
| Category | Specification or Detail | Value / Notes | Source Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Tonnage | Measurement of internal volume | 46,328 gross register tons | White Star Line specifications |
| Length | Overall hull length | 882 feet 9 inches (269.1 m) | Shipyard records |
| Passenger Capacity | Total berths across classes | 3,547 maximum (920 first/second/third class + crew) | White Star Line manifest |
| Lifeboat Provision | Number of lifeboats and capacity | 20 lifeboats, 1,178 total capacity | Board of Trade requirements, 1911 |
| Maiden Voyage Date | Departure and intended route | 10 April 1912, Southampton to New York City | White Star Line schedule |
| Sinking Date | Collision with iceberg and foundering | 15 April 1912, approximately 2:20 am | Survivor logs and inquiry reports |
| Casualties | Fatalities | Over 1,500 deaths; 700+ survivors | Board of Trade investigation |
Design and Construction Facts
Designed by naval architects at Harland and Wolff, the Titanic incorporated state-of-the-art engineering for the early 20th century.
Hull and Safety Features
The ship featured a double bottom and sixteen watertight compartments, which contributed to its reputation as unsinkable despite the tragic outcome.
Luxury and Passenger Amenities
First-class accommodations included a grand staircase, a dining saloon, and a well-equipped gymnasium, reflecting the era's class distinctions.
Operational and Technical Specifications
Power came from coal-fired boilers driving steam turbines, enabling a top speed that was among the fastest in commercial service at the time.
The Titanic's radio operators were employed by the Marconi company and primarily handled passenger messages and business communications, although weather and ice warnings were acknowledged but not always acted upon.
Officers worked under a regulated watch schedule, which, combined with the lack of binoculars in the crow's nest, hampered early detection of the iceberg.
Voyage Timeline and Key Events
From departure to disaster, the maiden voyage followed a well-traveled North Atlantic route with specific ports of call and tightly scheduled operations.
| Date | Event | Location or Detail | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 April 1912 | Departure | Southampton, England | Start of maiden voyage |
| 14 April 1912 | Iceberg Warning | North Atlantic | Multiple warnings received by radio |
| 14 April 1912, 11:40 pm | Collision | 400 miles south of Newfoundland | Iceberg breaches hull compartments |
| 15 April 1912, 12:05 am | Lifeboat Launching Begins | On deck | Women and children prioritized |
| 15 April 1912, 2:20 am | Sinking | North Atlantic | Final plunge, lights extinguished |
| 15 April 1912, 4:00 am | First Rescue | Carpathia arrives | Rescues 705 survivors |
Passenger and Crew Experiences
Accounts from survivors describe a range of human behavior, from heroism and discipline to chaos and panic as the ship sank.
Survivors were pulled aboard the Carpathia, where they received medical care, food, and shelter before being transported to port cities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Many first-class passengers documented the event in diaries and letters, while third-class passengers' stories were often recorded later through interviews and official testimony.
Legacy and Modern Exploration
The wreck's discovery in 1985 transformed academic and public understanding of the event, leading to conservation efforts and stricter international regulations on passenger safety.
- Verify facts using multiple authoritative sources such as official inquiries and engineering records.
- Understand how class and infrastructure influenced survival chances during the evacuation.
- Study ongoing archaeological work to preserve the site and respect its historical significance.
- Review modern safety protocols for ships to appreciate how lessons from Titanic continue to save lives at sea.
FAQ
Reader questions
How many lifeboats were available on the Titanic and were they sufficient?
The Titanic carried 20 lifeboats with a total capacity of 1,178 people, which was insufficient for the 3,547 people on board and did not meet the Board of Trade regulations of the era.
What role did the weather and visibility play in the disaster?
Calm seas and clear skies made icebergs difficult to spot, and the lack of moonlight further reduced visibility, contributing to the late detection of the iceberg.
Why were so many third-class passengers unable to escape?
Language barriers, unfamiliarity with the ship layout, and locked gates restricted third-class passengers, leading to lower survival rates compared to first and second class. The disaster led to the Radio Act of 1912 and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), establishing 24-hour radio monitoring and sufficient lifeboat requirements.