360The Titanic sinks on its first voyage
In the early hours of 15 April 1912, the RMS Titanic, then the largest ship in the world, sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg on its first voyage from Southampton to New York. More than 1,500 people died. The disaster led to major new rules for safety at sea.
The Titanic, built in Belfast for the White Star Line, was about 269 metres long and was described as the most luxurious ship afloat. It left Southampton on 10 April 1912 with more than 2,200 passengers and crew.
Late on 14 April, despite ice warnings, the ship struck an iceberg south of Newfoundland. Seawater flooded several compartments, and the ship sank about two hours and forty minutes later.
There were lifeboats for only about half of the people on board, and many left partly empty. Around 700 people were rescued by the ship Carpathia. More than 1,500 died.
In 1914, nations agreed the first International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. It required enough lifeboat places for everyone on board, round-the-clock radio watches and an ice patrol in the North Atlantic. The wreck was found in 1985, about 3,800 metres below the surface.
- 10 April 1912
- Titanic leaves Southampton
- 14 April 1912
- Ship strikes an iceberg
- 15 April 1912
- Titanic sinks
- 1914
- First international sea safety convention
- 1985
- Wreck discovered
Sources: National Maritime Museum · Britannica · Encyclopedia Titanica.