Safety Regulations
Titanic Safety Regulations
Lifeboats
The Titanic had 20 lifeboats for its 2200 passengers and crew. Although this was more than was legally required by the outdated Board of Trade laws, the lifeboats only had room for approximately half of the ship's passengers. Many of the lifeboats were not filled to capacity because passengers refused to board them. As a result, more than 1500 died in the tragic accident.
The Titanic was the one of the largest passenger ships of its time. The Board of Trade laws had not been updated for ships of the Titanic's size, so although the Titanic followed the safety regulations of the time, these measures were not enough for the amount of passengers on the boat.
Material Flaws
When the Titanic collided with the iceburg, it experienced "brittle fracture," which caused holes to form in the ship's walls and water to flood in. The brittle fracture was induced by three factors: the freezing water, the Titanic's high speed, and the high amounts of sulfur present in the ship's material. A piece of hull steel from the Titanic was found and analyzed by scientists. Because of the sample's jagged edges, they concluded that the hull shattered upon impact, instead of bending and deforming like quality, ductile steel would do to prevent holes forming. Another material flaw in the Titanic were the rivets that connected the plates of hull steel. The high impact collision with the ice-burg scraped the rivets off the side of the hull, opening up large holes in the ship for water to flood in. The rivets should have been stronger but because of freezing temperatures they were very brittle. These material flaws in the Titanic were major factors in its sinking.
Ship Design
The Titanic had sixteen watertight compartments in its hull. When they began to flood, the crew sealed them off to prevent further flooding. However, the compartments were only horizontally watertight, so when the ship began to tilt, water flowed over the tops of the compartments into adjacent compartments, flooding even more of the ship. Had the Titanic not had any watertight compartments at all, the ship actually would have sank less rapidly. Because the water was contained in one section of the boat, it began to tilt. However, had the water been allowed to spread out along the entire ship's bottom, the Titanic would've remained horizontal and sank much slower, allowing time for rescuers to come. The design-flawed watertight compartments of the Titanic were a contributing factor in its sinking.
The Titanic had 20 lifeboats for its 2200 passengers and crew. Although this was more than was legally required by the outdated Board of Trade laws, the lifeboats only had room for approximately half of the ship's passengers. Many of the lifeboats were not filled to capacity because passengers refused to board them. As a result, more than 1500 died in the tragic accident.
The Titanic was the one of the largest passenger ships of its time. The Board of Trade laws had not been updated for ships of the Titanic's size, so although the Titanic followed the safety regulations of the time, these measures were not enough for the amount of passengers on the boat.
Material Flaws
When the Titanic collided with the iceburg, it experienced "brittle fracture," which caused holes to form in the ship's walls and water to flood in. The brittle fracture was induced by three factors: the freezing water, the Titanic's high speed, and the high amounts of sulfur present in the ship's material. A piece of hull steel from the Titanic was found and analyzed by scientists. Because of the sample's jagged edges, they concluded that the hull shattered upon impact, instead of bending and deforming like quality, ductile steel would do to prevent holes forming. Another material flaw in the Titanic were the rivets that connected the plates of hull steel. The high impact collision with the ice-burg scraped the rivets off the side of the hull, opening up large holes in the ship for water to flood in. The rivets should have been stronger but because of freezing temperatures they were very brittle. These material flaws in the Titanic were major factors in its sinking.
Ship Design
The Titanic had sixteen watertight compartments in its hull. When they began to flood, the crew sealed them off to prevent further flooding. However, the compartments were only horizontally watertight, so when the ship began to tilt, water flowed over the tops of the compartments into adjacent compartments, flooding even more of the ship. Had the Titanic not had any watertight compartments at all, the ship actually would have sank less rapidly. Because the water was contained in one section of the boat, it began to tilt. However, had the water been allowed to spread out along the entire ship's bottom, the Titanic would've remained horizontal and sank much slower, allowing time for rescuers to come. The design-flawed watertight compartments of the Titanic were a contributing factor in its sinking.
New Laws and Regulations
After the sinking of the Titanic, the world realized that significant changes needed to be made to safety regulations of ships. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) was established in 1914 just for that purpose. The conference was held in London and was attended by 13 countries, including the United States. They established new regulations to ensure the safety of people traveling across the ocean.
One of the regulations stated that there had to be enough room on the lifeboats for all passengers and crew aboard the ship. Also, passengers would be assigned to a lifeboat before the voyage to ensure the quickest route to safety possible. Four crew members who knew how to operate boats would be assigned to each life boat. In addition, lifeboat drills were conducted at least twice a month by the crew. At least one life boat was required to have a motorized engine and all were to be equipped with proper supplies such as a compass, water, and food.
Other regulations regarded the provision of water-tight and fire-proof bulkheads, life-saving appliances, and fire-fighting appliances on board. Another important measure taken was the creation of a North Atlantic ice patrol. The International Ice Patrol, run by the United States Coast Guard, is in charge of regulating ice fields and alerting ships as to where large ice fields are located and how to avoid them. Since its creation, no ship that has heeded the patrol's warnings has had a significant collision with an ice-burg. SOLAS has been revised four times since 1914, but still remains one of the most important maritime developments in history.
Recommendations were also set forth regarding shipbuilding regulations. Ships should have an interior watertight skin extending above the waterline that should extend no less than two-thirds of the length of the ship. Bulkheads should be spaced so that the flooding of compartments would not tilt the ship. Watertight transverse bulkheads should extend from one side of the ship to the other, connecting to the outside hull on each side. Transverse bulkheads should reach to the top of the next floor. All watertight compartments should be able to withstand five feet more than the full height of the bulkhead in water pressure without serious damage. Bulkheads should be tested by being subjected to water pressure.
These changes made in safety regulations were a very important step in maritime law and have thus far prevented any shipwreck as devastating as the Titanic disaster since they have been implemented.
One of the regulations stated that there had to be enough room on the lifeboats for all passengers and crew aboard the ship. Also, passengers would be assigned to a lifeboat before the voyage to ensure the quickest route to safety possible. Four crew members who knew how to operate boats would be assigned to each life boat. In addition, lifeboat drills were conducted at least twice a month by the crew. At least one life boat was required to have a motorized engine and all were to be equipped with proper supplies such as a compass, water, and food.
Other regulations regarded the provision of water-tight and fire-proof bulkheads, life-saving appliances, and fire-fighting appliances on board. Another important measure taken was the creation of a North Atlantic ice patrol. The International Ice Patrol, run by the United States Coast Guard, is in charge of regulating ice fields and alerting ships as to where large ice fields are located and how to avoid them. Since its creation, no ship that has heeded the patrol's warnings has had a significant collision with an ice-burg. SOLAS has been revised four times since 1914, but still remains one of the most important maritime developments in history.
Recommendations were also set forth regarding shipbuilding regulations. Ships should have an interior watertight skin extending above the waterline that should extend no less than two-thirds of the length of the ship. Bulkheads should be spaced so that the flooding of compartments would not tilt the ship. Watertight transverse bulkheads should extend from one side of the ship to the other, connecting to the outside hull on each side. Transverse bulkheads should reach to the top of the next floor. All watertight compartments should be able to withstand five feet more than the full height of the bulkhead in water pressure without serious damage. Bulkheads should be tested by being subjected to water pressure.
These changes made in safety regulations were a very important step in maritime law and have thus far prevented any shipwreck as devastating as the Titanic disaster since they have been implemented.