Titanic: Five Facts About The Disaster

1. The Titanic Was Considered Unsinkable

When the Titanic set sail in April 1912, it was touted as the largest and most luxurious ship ever built. Due to its advanced design—including 16 watertight compartments—it was widely believed to be “practically unsinkable.” This belief, however, proved fatally optimistic. The iceberg that struck the ship damaged five of these compartments, causing the vessel to flood and sink in less than three hours.

The interesting thing about the “unsinkable” moniker is that the builders, Harland and Wolff, never claimed that. This was something that came about by Shipbuilder Magazine, where they said, “This ship cannot be sunk.”

Susie Miller - a Belfast tour guide, whose great-grandfather worked for the company

2. There Were Not Enough Lifeboats for Everyone on Board

Despite having a capacity of over 2,200 passengers and crew, the Titanic carried only 20 lifeboats—enough for about half that number. Ironically, this met the legal requirements of the time, but it fell far short of what was needed. While the ship sank, the order was given that women and children should board the lifeboats. Families were wrenched apart, with men and even teenage boys left on deck. What’s worse, many lifeboats were launched partially empty in the confusion, leaving even more people without a chance of survival.

3. The “Unsinkable” Molly Brown Became a Hero

Margaret Brown, later known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," was a first-class passenger who became a symbol of courage during the disaster. After surviving in Lifeboat No. 6, she reportedly urged the crew to return and search for more survivors, though her requests were refused. She later helped raise money for the victims and became a celebrated figure in Titanic lore.

4. A Wireless Operator Ignored an Iceberg Warning

Throughout the evening of April 14, the Titanic received multiple iceberg warnings from nearby ships. One message from the SS Californian was dismissed by the Titanic’s wireless operator, who was reportedly overwhelmed with sending personal messages from passengers. That warning could have helped prevent the tragedy if it had been taken seriously.

A big part of the Titanic story is that these iceberg warnings were coming in, and they were largely being ignored.

Julian Fellowes, screenwriter

5. The Wreck Wasn’t Found Until 1985

After sinking to the bottom of the North Atlantic, the Titanic remained lost for over 70 years. It wasn’t until 1985 that oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard and his team discovered the wreck, nearly 13,000 feet below the surface. The ship was found split in two, surrounded by debris. Since then, thousands of artefacts have been recovered, offering a haunting glimpse into the past.