- Size: The Titanic was one of the largest ships ever built at the time, stretching over 882 feet (269 meters) in length and weighing over 46,328 tons. It was capable of carrying up to 2,435 passengers and crew members, making it a marvel of naval engineering.
- Hull: The Titanic's hull was made of riveted steel plates, approximately one inch thick. It featured a double bottom, which served as an extra safety measure in case of damage. Despite these precautions, the ship's hull was not entirely unsinkable, as the collision with the iceberg revealed.
- Watertight Compartments: The Titanic was divided into 16 watertight compartments by means of bulkheads, which were designed to contain flooding in case of a breach. These compartments were numbered from the front of the ship to the back.
- Propulsion: The Titanic was powered by a combination of steam turbines and reciprocating steam engines, making it capable of reaching a speed of around 22 knots (41 km/h). It was equipped with three massive propellers, each driven by a separate engine.
- Luxury and Amenities: The Titanic was renowned for its luxurious features, including lavish cabins, a grand staircase, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, libraries, restaurants, and other recreational facilities. The ship was designed to provide passengers with the highest level of comfort during their journey.
Collision with the Iceberg and Sinking
- Collision: On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic collided with an iceberg while sailing in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 miles (644 kilometers) off the coast of Newfoundland. The iceberg ripped a series of holes in the ship's starboard side, damaging the first five watertight compartments.
- Sinking: The damage sustained by the ship allowed water to flood into the adjacent compartments beyond what the watertight design was intended to handle. The ship began to list heavily, first to the starboard side, causing many passengers and crew members to rush to the port side in panic.
- Evacuation: As the Titanic sank, a chaotic evacuation process took place. There were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board, leading to a disproportionately higher loss of lives among the third-class passengers compared to the first-class and second-class passengers.
- Rescue Efforts: When news of the disaster reached surrounding ships, some, such as the RMS Carpathia, rushed to the scene and managed to rescue over 700 survivors.
- Loss of Life: The sinking of the Titanic resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 passengers and crew members, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history.
The Titanic's legacy remains as a powerful reminder of the fragility of human endeavors and the importance of safety measures in maritime travel.