APRIL 10, 1912-APRIL 15, 1912
In 1912, RMS Titanic was the largest ship ever built, weighing in at more than 46,000 tons and stretching 886 feet long (about 1/6 mile). The press dubbed her "unsinkable".
Titanic was built with a double hull for safety and a system of 16 watertight compartments designed to keep the ship buoyant if up to four of the sections were breached.
For first class passengers, the experience was of a floating palace with luxurious décor, facilities and accessories. The prestige of travelling in such a ship attracted wealthy transatlantic travellers; many considered the celebrities of their era.
For four days, those onboard enjoyed the unparalleled seafaring experience of Titanic. Then, just before midnight on the night of April 14 to April 15, Titanic hit an iceberg near Newfoundland, in the North Atlantic. The ice ripped through the hull and water poured into five of the watertight compartments. Titanic began to sink. At 12.20am the order was given to evacuate women and children in the ship’s lifeboats. Titanic was designed with 32 lifeboats but sailed with just 20 after it was deemed the deck would be cluttered with the full complement. The reduced number allowed for 1,178 people to escape if filled to maximum but many boats were cast off with spaces still empty to speed the exit from the ship. Titanic was carrying 2,223 people (approximately split into; 330 first class, 320 second class, 750 third class or steerage and 850 crew).
Titanic sank at 2.20am.
More than 1,500 people died, either trapped on board or drowned in the icy waters, before rescue ships arrived. In total just 705 people were plucked from the sea. Of the first class passengers, who disembarked first, 210 people were saved. Only 200 steerage class passengers survived.
COMMEMORATING THE 96th ANNIVERSARY of RMS TITANIC
ONLINE EXHIBIT ON TITANIC
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