Risky Business: In association with Brighter Business

The word “unsinkable” was used frequently by Belfast shipbuilders Harland & Wolff, the media and the passenger liner’s owner, White Star Line.

When the line’s vice-president, P.A.S Franklin, was alerted to the Titanic ’s dire situation he restated his belief in its buoyancy, unable to comprehend that such a fate could befall the diamond in the company’s fleet. It was a full hour after the collision before the call was made to abandon ship; even then, many passengers opted to remain on board, wasting valuable lifeboat capacity.

This same conviction hammered home another truism: never underestimate your opponent, in this case the Atlantic Ocean. Such was the confidence in the ship, suitable precautions were not taken in a number of ways.

Cruising at 22 knots through an ice-field at night, Titanic was unable to manoeuvre round the looming iceberg. Had there not been alleged pressure to reach New York impressively early, the speed may have been tempered in perilous waters.

Last month, a very significant artefact went for sale at auctioneers Henry Aldridge in Wiltshire. The key belonging to the crow’s nest locker, which housed the binoculars, was held on to by second officer David Blair after he was taken off the ship before it sailed.

We must assume Blair’s replacement failed to communicate the oversight, or he didn’t realise until sent to keep watch. This shows that procedures, in haste to get moving, were not followed and staff not re-briefed.

Perhaps the greatest error – again over-confidence was a factor – was the decision to cut a crucial corner. Legally obliged to carry 16 lifeboats, White Star Line opted for 20, enough for 1,178 people. With more than 3,500 on board the sums didn’t add up.

The outdated law applied to ships weighing more than 10,000 tons. Titanic weighed 46,328 tons. It was expected that, in the unlikely event of an accident, other vessels would come to the rescue. It was also alleged, although denied, that additional lifeboats would have affected the cosmetic appearance of the promenade. Whatever the truth, Titanic was a disaster waiting to happen.

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