1912 : RMN TITANIC

The RMS Titanic, a luxury British passenger liner, sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. The disaster resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 of the approximately 2,200 people on board.

The Maiden Voyage and Collision

The RMS Titanic began its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, under the command of Captain Edward John Smith. 

• April 10, 1912: The ship departed Southampton, England, at noon, stopping in Cherbourg, France, and then Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, on April 11, before setting course across the Atlantic.
• April 14, 1912: Throughout the day, the Titanic's wireless operators received several warnings about ice in the North Atlantic, but not all of these messages reached the bridge. The ship maintained its high speed of approximately 22 knots (41 km/h).
• April 14, 1912 (11:40 p.m. ship's time): Lookout Frederick Fleet spotted an iceberg directly ahead and alerted the bridge. First Officer William Murdoch ordered the ship to turn and the engines reversed, but it was too late to avoid a collision. The iceberg scraped along the starboard side of the hull, causing a series of narrow openings that breached at least five of the 16 supposedly watertight compartments.

The Sinking

After the collision, it became clear the ship was doomed, as it could only stay afloat with a maximum of four compartments flooded. April 15, 1912 (12:00 a.m.): Captain Smith ordered the wireless operators to send out distress calls and the crew to prepare the lifeboats.

• April 15, 1912 (12:45 a.m.): The first lifeboat was lowered, but many were launched significantly under capacity, in part because passengers were reluctant to leave the "unsinkable" ship and due to chaotic evacuation procedures.
• April 15, 1912 (2:05 a.m.): The last lifeboat departed, leaving over 1,500 people on the rapidly sinking ship.
• April 15, 1912 (2:18 a.m.): The ship's lights blinked out, and the immense strain caused the RMS Titanic to break in two between the third and fourth funnels.
• April 15, 1912 (2:20 a.m.): The stern section rose vertically before sinking beneath the ocean surface, 400 miles (640 km) off the coast of Newfoundland. Most of those who went into the freezing water died within minutes from hypothermia.

Aftermath and Legacy

The Cunard liner RMS Carpathia arrived at the scene around 4:10 a.m., rescuing the 706 survivors from the lifeboats. The disaster led to international outrage and spurred major changes in maritime safety regulations, including the establishment of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in 1914, which mandated sufficient lifeboat space for everyone on board and a 24-hour radio watch.

The wreck of the RMS Titanic was finally located on the ocean floor, at a depth of about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters), in 1985.

The sinking changed the world forever. It led to the creation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which still governs maritime safety today. It’s why every ship now must have enough lifeboats for everyone on board and maintain a 24-hour radio watch.

Google Gemini AI

26 January 2026: 9.36 p.m