what if titanic hit the iceberg head on
It was built to survive with 4 compartments breached. In all likelihood, the iceberg that sank the Titanic didnt even endure to the outbreak of World War I, a lost splash of freshwater mixed in imperceptibly with the rest of the North Atlantic. What Are Asteroids And Where Do They Come From? The most notable damage was to the bow of the ship which was ripped open. However, when the hull of the ship collided with the iceberg, the shipbuilder knew Titanic's fate was . The bow likely would have crumped pretty bad, like most of the way to the first bulkhead or more. Clive Bull is Leading Britain's Conversation. Still, it is definitely not one of them. The iceberg ripped along below the waterline like a can opener for about 300 feet. buy a product on Amazon from a link on here, we get a small percentage of its When a ship hits an iceberg head on, all the force would be transferred back to the ship, so it wouldn't have ripped open, but crumpled round, so only 2-3 compartments would have been breached. The iceberg sliced through six. What Is The Evolutionary Purpose Of Boredom? In order to prevent another disaster like this from happening in the future, maritime authorities have put into place stricter regulations for ships travelling through dangerous waters. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If only four of the Titanic's watertight compartments had been breached, it would have stayed afloat. Answer a few questions based and assess your understanding. [insert object name]) in real life to get things done. Three small dogs, two Pomeranians and a Pekingese, survived the Titanic disaster cradled in their owners arms as they climbed into lifeboats. Murdoch ordered the engines to stop, and reverse. Despite the Titanic's notoriety, many other shipwrecks beat the disaster in loss of life. It does not store any personal data. LONDON: Nearly a century after the sinking of the Titanic, a new study claims that an officer in charge on the bridge could have prevented the tragedy had he acted timely on a warning seconds before the ship struck an iceberg. Is it possible that a German submarine sank the Titanic? of a body weighing 50,000 tons moving at the rate of The iceberg sliced through six. When the "unsinkable" ship, the largest, most luxurious ocean liner of its time, crashed into an iceberg on its . Primarily, the sinking of Titanic was DRIVER ERROR - so that would be down to WILL MURDOCH. When a ship hits an iceberg head on, all the force would be transferred back to the ship, so it wouldn't have ripped open, but crumpled round, so Menu Search for If the Titanic hadn't sunk, it would likely have taken another similar disaster to put that lifesaving policy into effect. However I did not take into account until just a little while ago the force that that would have created. However, the sinking was a "perfect storm" (in calm seas) of COCK-UPS. Use the Global Player app to listen to live radio for LBC & LBC News. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. On the fateful day of 14 April 1912, the RMS Titanic, a luxury passenger ship described as unsinkable, collided with an iceberg, causing an accident of catastrophic proportions. This was the side that had struck the iceberg off of Newfoundland 100 years ago on April 14,1912. Titanic struck a North Atlantic iceberg at 11:40 PM in the evening of 14 April 1912 at a speed of 20.5 knots (23.6 MPH). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 11:40 The Titanic sideswipes the iceberg, damaging nearly 300 feet of the hull. Will I need reading glasses after cataract surgery? Captain Smith was responsible for over 2,200 passengers and more than 1,200 were killed that fateful night of April 14. #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz button.fca_qc_next_question:hover { Several hypotheses were put forward as to what could have been done to minimize the losses caused by the collision, one of which stated that if the Titanic had collided head-on with the iceberg, the damage to life and property would have been much less serious. Helping support the rivet theory are two bits of supporting evidence. The Titanic did not hit the iceberg head on, forcing it to swipe the ships starboard side and causing it to pierce six holes in the ships steel plates. Does Doubling The Speed Of A Vehicle On A Highway Only Double The Impact Force Of An Accident? The idea that the ship would have survived if it had crashed head-on into the iceberg is therefore crazy; there are several claims and hypotheses that suggest a variety of approaches that could have reduced, if not completely avoided, the severity of the tragic wreck of the RMS Titanic. He totally gets why JRR Tolkien would create, from scratch, a language spoken by elves, and tries to bring the same passion in everything he does. One hundred years ago, the "unsinkable" Titani. background-color: #8dc8bf; Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Many people died due to hypothermia or drowning after being trapped on board Titanic when it sank. When a ship hits an iceberg head on, all the force would be transferred back to the ship, so it wouldn't have ripped open, but crumpled round, so only 2-3 compartments would have been breached. 160 minutes - the time it took the Titanic to sink after hitting the iceberg (2 hours and 40 minutes). #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz div.fca_qc_question_response_item p { After completing her maiden voyage, she would have captured media attention and held temporally the title of the biggest ship afloat. https://www.nist.gov/nist-time-capsule/nist-beneath-waves/nist-reveals-how-tiny-rivets-doomed-titanic-vessel. New York, April 17Captain Smith of the Titanic had warning of the danger ahead of him in the giant iceberg that sent his vessel to the bottom of the North Atlantic. What impact can gender roles have on consumer behaviour? 50. She sank . They examined rivets brought up from the wreck and found them to contain a high concentration of slag, a smelting residue that can make metal split apart. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 107 #52: If Titanic had rammed the iceberg head-on, she would have survived. How do you know if your husband has feelings for another woman? 52 the number of children from steerage who perished. Taking into consideration the way the bulkheads worked and were designed it probably would have been best to have hit the iceberg head on. Titanic hit an iceberg on its starboard (right) side. The ship . Workers installing rivets in the hull of Titanic in 1911 at the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, Ireland. Some historians suspect that if the order hadnt been given to stop the engines, the Titanic may have been able to swing around and out of the way of the iceberg. price. 2:00 If Titanic hadnt collided with the iceberg, she would probably have fared no different. Lock It is very difficult to pass judgment on what would go through an Officers mind, My Lord. 20274: An error of judgment and negligence are two different things altogether. What if Titanic hit the iceberg head on? #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz div.fca_qc_answer_div.fakehover, When a ship hits an iceberg head on, all the force would be transferred back to the ship, so it wouldn't have ripped open, but crumpled round, so only 2-3 compartments would have been breached. Do you mean to say that if this ship had driven on to the iceberg stem on she would have been saved?, I am quite sure she would, My Lord. If the ship had hit the berg head on, Titanic probably would have survived. #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz div.fca_qc_answer_div:active { into an iceberg and did come into port, and she was However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 1912-1985 the official narrative (hit an iceberg and went down intact within two hours) discounted eye witnesses testimony that reported . What if the Titanic had hit the iceberg head on? LBC. That means it likely broke off from Greenland in 1910 or 1911, and was gone forever by the end of 1912 or sometime in 1913. going fast?, I am old enough to remember that case, but I am afraid my memory is not good enough. Mr. Laing: The ArizonaI remember it. The Witness: The Arizona, my Lord., 20276: (Mr. Rowlatt) You said it would have killed For a few years I thought that the Titanic would have survived if she had hit the Iceberg head-on. This means the iceberg that sank the Titanic likely broke off from Greenland in 1910 or 1911, and was gone forever by the end of 1912 or sometime in 1913.. } The iceberg sliced through six. Again, in different circumstances where the conditions for the illusion were not present the ship would have been able to see the upcoming obstacle and act accordingly. The collision bulkheads on the bow of the Titanic were designed to survive a collision with another ship, but not an iceberg! In the aftermath of the accident, some people argued that if the ship had not tried to maneuver a turn at the last moment but had instead continued on its original course, fewer lives would have been lost. If the Titanic hadnt sunk, it would likely have taken another similar disaster to put that lifesaving policy into effect. Answer: That's wrong - it would probably have survived. By turning in a futile attempt to avoid collision, Titanic took the full pressure of the iceberg against its hull, likely resulting in the fatal rivet popping and separation of the hull plates. She could float with any two compartments open amidships, but with four (technically five if you count the very peak) of the forward compartments. The Titanic had received many wireless messages warning her of icebergs. #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz button.fca_qc_button:hover { If the ship had hit the iceberg head-on therefore, its predicted that only the first three or four watertight compartments would have been flooded, a less severe alternative to what actually happened. In the event of a frontal collision, the impact would have extended the entire length of the ship, splitting seams and bursting rivets, in which case many more of the ships compartments would have been exposed to the sea, causing the ship to sink much faster. Violet was in bed when Titanic hit the iceberg, but as soon as she realised something was wrong she dressed and went on deck. The same thing would happen with the other ship (that collided with yours), as it also absorbed some of the energy of the impact. What would have happened if the Titanic hit the iceberg head-on? Some historians suspect that if the order hadn't been given to . The disaster not only shocked the world . This means the iceberg that sank the Titanic likely broke off from Greenland in 1910 or 1911, and was gone forever by the end of 1912 or sometime in 1913. The episode was not found or is unavailable. When a ship hits an iceberg head on, all the force would be transferred back to the ship, so it wouldn't have ripped open, but crumpled round, so only 2-3 compartments would have been breached. Importantly the ship would still be able to float, as it was designed to in the event that any two or all of its first four compartments became flooded. Cruise-goers reveal their most terrifying incidents at sea - from watching a ferocious TORNADO spin up beside the boat to hitting an ICEBERG. In any case while a ship striking the bottom of the ocean does make a sound and Titanic's hitting the bottom would have been picked up by the U.S. Navy today (or 30 years ago) that sound doesn't transfer well to air and humans can't detect it above or below water or feel it as vibration. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank to a watery grave, killing 1,514 passengers. The second study, by British historian Tim Maltin, claimed that atmospheric conditions on the night of the disaster might have caused a phenomenon called super refraction. Name: Gary, Meapham Qualification: Genius of Titanic proportions Answer: There is no definitive answer, but it would probably have sunk anyway. If Titanic hadn't collided with the iceberg, she would . Answer: There is no definitive answer, but it would probably have sunk anyway. A nurse by the name of Violet Jessop was on Titanic when it hit an iceberg and sank. color: #151515; Violet helped women and children into lifeboats until she herself was given a baby to look after and ordered into lifeboat 16. . border: #dbdbdb 0px solid; What if the Titanic hit the iceberg head on? One of the most notorious historical events of the 20th century, the sinking of the RMS Titanic was a tragedy which took the lives of over 1, 500 passengers, gaining international prominence and spawning urban legends and tales which still remain to this today. If Iron Loses Its Magnetism At High Temperatures, How Is Earths Core Magnetic? on the web. Can the Constitution be changed by the president? } When you hit an iceberg, the ship below the water will hit the iceberg before the ship above the water line, so it would divert it off its course - it's not like hitting a brick wall head-on. T. Foecke/NIST. Nigel, Covent Garden. The Titanic had two lookouts who were located in the crows nest, 29 meters about the deck, neither of which had binoculars. Those who agreed with this hypothesis blamed First Officer Murdoch for his irresponsible actions that led to the disaster. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz button.fca_qc_next_question { It created a long thin opening that allowed water to pour into the Titanic. Due to the size and speed of the Titanic it was not able to avoid the iceberg. How long are WhatsApp messages stored on the server? It depends, of course, on the severity of the contact. A 46,000 ton ship traveling 22 knots hits an iceberg weighing a minimum of 100,000 tons, the collision would create a powerful force that causes incredible destruction. Copyright 2023 Quick-Advices | All rights reserved. What if Titanic missed the iceberg? The Titanic hit an iceberg head on, causing the ship to sink in just over two hours. The Titanic is shown sinking from the stern. #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz div.fca-qc-back.wrong-answer, Yes. 20267: I gather to resist such a contact as that you could not build any plates strong enough, as plates? Titanic Walking Tours | All rights reserved. RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States.Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, more than 1,500 died, making it the deadliest sinking of a single ship up to that time. Your email address will not be published. V Bassett. If its mass was similar to another ship (aka Titanic could ram it and it would move), the damage wouldn't be terrible. On April 15, 1912, at 2:20 a.m., what was deemed one of the most luxurious and safe ships ever built, hit an iceberg and sank off the coast of Newfoundland, taking more than 1,500 lives. What impact can gender roles have on consumer behaviour? As a matter of fact, the Titanic relayed the warning to the shore. Clive Bull What Was Found At The Top Of The Grand Canyon? Atlantic steamer, some 34 years ago, did go stem on It turns out that raising the Titanic would be about as futile as rearranging the deck chairs on the doomed vessel. LBC The bow of the RMS Titanic on the ocean floor as seen during a June 2004 expedition. What If The Titanic Hit The Iceberg Head-on? The bow of the RMS Titanic on the ocean floor as seen during a June 2004 expedition. An abrupt stop would have thrown people against cabins or berths, and since it was night and most passengers were asleep, they would have had absolutely no chance of bracing against the impact; they would have been flung into the things in their immediate vicinity. How much weight should I add to my putter grip? If the ship had hit the iceberg head-on therefore, its predicted that only the first three or four watertight compartments would have been flooded, a less severe alternative to what actually happened. Titanic was a character who appeared as a minor character in Annoying Orange Through Time. How long did the Titanic stay afloat for after hitting the iceberg? 1:20 a.m. Answer (1 of 7): They saw it, seconds before it hit the ship. A bulkhead is an upright wall within the hull of a ship to divide compartments to avoid flooding. It is estimated that if the iceberg had hit the Titanic at a different angle, more than people may have died. Add your answer in the comments box below. The idea that the ship would have survived if it had crashed head-on into the iceberg is therefore crazy; there are several claims and hypotheses that suggest a variety of approaches that could have reduced, if not completely avoided, the severity of the tragic wreck of the RMS Titanic. These new safety measures include increased ice patrols by ships and stricter guidelines for shipping companies when choosing routes. A lock ( We know two watches were Explain The Schrodinger Wave Equation In Simple Words. The Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912, which caused considerable damage, this damage caused the ship to flood and eventually sink. If the Titanic had rammed head-on into the iceberg, it would have come to a halt almost immediately; just think of what it feels like when you see a car swerving in front of you, and you suddenly step on the brakes. This means that whenever you Why Is Friday The 13th Considered Unlucky? The colossal cruise liner had been built with bulkheads in its bow in the event of a collision. color: #151515; Read about the . No one has found human remains, according to the company that owns the salvage rights. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Is it possible, just possible, that a German submarine, rather than an iceberg, sank the mighty Titanic? As a result its docking station in Belfast is a popular tourist attraction on manyNorthern Ireland tours, but what is even more popular are the range of alternative theories which surround the ship that detail how the disaster could have been avoided. What if the Titanic hit the iceberg head-on? These areas were particularly susceptible to damage because they were located aft of the bridge and steering gear. Lookouts spot the iceberg 1/4 mile ahead. The colossal cruise liner had been built with bulkheads in its bow in the event of a collision. After the Titanic had sunk, safety regulations were increased to make . 22 knots an hour?. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz span.fca_qc_answer_span { The wild stories of other ships - like the Arizona, Grampian, Flori. How did the Titanic survive the Titanic accident? 1am - 4am. Yes - Titanic probably could have survived an impact with the iceberg if she hit head-on! Your email address will not be published. But technical limitationsas well as the sheer vastness of the North Atlantic search areamade it extremely difficult. If the ship had hit the berg head on, Titanic probably would have survived because of the strength of its bulkheads. Captain Edward Smith Responsible For Sinking The Titanic | Titanic. Official websites use .gov TRUE. Why Don't They Have Parachutes For Passengers In Commercial Planes? Microscopic analysis of iron rivets recovered from, Created June 20, 2017, Updated February 13, 2019, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST Reveals How Tiny Rivets Doomed a Titanic Vessel, Preserving the Spirit of a Mighty Shipand the Environment Around It, NIST Helps Restore a Blast (Off) from the Past, The Parlour Suites, the most luxurious rooms onboard. After the accident, experts from all over the world examined the entire episode with surgical precision. A big admirer of Richard Feynman and Nikola Tesla, he obsesses over how thoroughly science dictates every aspect of life in this universe, at least. Credit: It hit the front part and flooded the first 5 compartments within minutes. The disaster . It is entirely crew there, and almost entirely firemenfiremen, trimmers, and greasers. 20280: Your opinion is that the ship would have suffered that crushing in in the first two compartments, but that the shock would not have shattered or loosened the rivets in any other part of the ship?, Not sufficiently. On the night of April 14th 1912, only a few days into the voyage, the site of the iceberg was exposed for the fist time. After completing her maiden voyage, she would have captured media attention and held temporally the title of the biggest ship afloat. Why Is The Wreck Of RMS Titanic Disappearing? Your email address will not be published. As the ship had collision bulkheads in the bow, it would most likely have survived the damage. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Titanic, a 55,000-tonne ship, was traveling at 22 knots, almost 41 km / h. They were trying to steer the ship to the left to avoid a direct collision, but the collision occurred, and the iceberg scraped along the side of the ship and tore its hull apart. What would happen if the Titanic didnt hit the iceberg? As the myth goes, the Titanic was touted as unsinkable by the press and White Star Line's management. The collision between the Titanic and an iceberg likely doomed . 3 Problems With A Head-on Collision; No. #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz p:not( .fca_qc_back_response ):not( #fca_qc_question_right_or_wrong ):not( .fca_qc_question_response_correct_answer ):not( .fca_qc_question_response_response ):not( .fca_qc_question_response_hint ):not( .fca_qc_question_response_item p ), Of the 2 240 passengers and crew on board more than 1 500 lost their lives in the disaster. Most everyone assumed the iceberg had torn . View The idea that the ship should have maintained its course and rammed into the iceberg head-on to minimize damages is far from plausible and is also scientifically inaccurate. In real history, the R.M.S. If the Titanic were to collide with the iceberg a stationary, mammoth object most of the energy of the impact would have to be absorbed by the ship, which would have only made matters worse. The process of super light refraction which occurred caused miraging, which is where the light is bent, which was recorded by other ships in the area at the time and prevented the Titanic from seeing the imminent iceberg it was about to hit. Required fields are marked *. This resulted in water flooding into the interior of the ship, causing rapid sinking. The average lifespan of an iceberg in the North Atlantic typically is two to three years from calving to melting. 110 years ago today, The RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank into the Atlantic ocean. Thus, of the roughly 1,500 people killed in the disaster, about 1,160 bodies remain lost. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Additionally, many other injuries were sustained as a result of this collision, including broken bones and lacerations from falling debris. color: #FFFFFF; The ship instantly filled with water and roughly two hours later actually . In such a case, both the vessels would sustain heavy damages but would likely still stay afloat. The compartments of such bulkheads were more or less like the crumple zones of modern vehicles, meaning that they absorbed most of the energy of the impact following a collision. Three small dogs, two Pomeranians and a Pekingese, survived the Titanic disaster cradled in their owners arms as they climbed into lifeboats. . If the ship had hit the berg head on, Titanic probably would have survived because of the strength of its bulkheads. Whilst doing so helped the ship not to go forwards, its location in front of the rudder further crippled the handling of the ship. If the iceberg had not been there, it is likely that the Titanic would have made it to New York City. This finding strongly suggested that Titanics collision with the iceberg caused the rivet heads to break off, popped the fasteners from their holes and allowed water to rush in between the separated hull plates. Credit: The captain woke up and called for Andrews to "sound the ship", which meant to check it and see the damage. It was built to survive with 4 compartments breached. This bending of light could have created mirages, or optical illusions, that prevented the Titanics lookouts from seeing the iceberg clearly. The ocean liner RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg on April 14, 1912. They examined rivets brought up from the wreck and found them to contain a high concentration of slag, a smelting residue that can make metal split apart. After the Titanic sank, searchers recovered 340 bodies. If the ship had hit the iceberg head-on therefore, it's predicted that, No matter what caused the Titanic to sink, such a massive loss of life could probably have been avoided if. The . It was even described as unsinkable. 50. The colossal cruise liner had been built with bulkheads in its bow in the event of a collision. box-shadow: 0 2px 0 0 #3c7d73; This title would be lost in June 1913 to the new Hamburg-American Lines SS Imperator. } Too late to maneuver out of the way. The actual damage could not have resulted in the flooding that overwhelmed Titanics watertight compartments. . Why Didnt The Passengers Of The Titanic Climb Aboard The Iceberg To Save Themselves From The Sinking Ship? Four years later she survived the sinking of its sister ship, Britannic, after it hit a sea mine and sank. The RMS Titanic sank in the early morning of 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into the ships maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. all the firemen?, I am afraid she would have crumpled up in stopping herself. It was built to survive with 4 compartments breached. Name: Gary, Meapham. No. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". background-color: #dbdbdb; Orange was attempting to annoy the Titanic before it hit the iceberg that sank it in real life. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Titanic hit the iceberg head on and as a result, sustained a lot of damage. All Rights Reserved. American oceanographer and former Navy officer Robert D. People have been diving to the Titanics wreck for 35 years. If the ship had hit the iceberg head-on therefore, it's predicted that only the first three or four watertight compartments would have been flooded, a less severe alternative to what actually happened. When the sunken Titanic was discovered in 1985, its starboard (right) side was embedded in sand. As it would take a considerable length, 80 or 100 feet to bring up, it is not a shock, it is a pressure that lasts three or four seconds, five seconds perhaps, and whilst it is a big pressure it is not in the nature of a sharp blow. 20281: (The Commissioner) It would, I suppose, have shot everybody in the ship out of their berths?, I very much doubt it, My Lord. 20282: At 22 1/2 knots an hour, and being pulled up quite suddenly?, Not quite suddenly, My Lord. When a ship hits an iceberg head on, all the force would be transferred back to the ship, so it wouldn't have ripped open, but crumpled round, so only 2-3 compartments would have been breached. He spearheads the content and editorial wing of ScienceABC and manages its official Youtube channel. background-color: #FFFFFF; If only four of the Titanic's watertight compartments had been breached, it would have stayed afloat. Hes a Harry Potter fan and tries, in vain, to use spells and charms (Accio! #fca_qc_quiz_47869.fca_qc_quiz div.fca-qc-back.correct-answer, This dispelled the long-believed myth that the iceberg ripped a 90-meter (300-foot) gash in the side of the ship. It was built to survive with 4 compartments breached. Copyright 2023. 1 the number of children from First Class who perished. What if Titanic hit the iceberg head on? What created the myth of the unsinkable . The wild stories of other ships - like the Arizona, Grampian, Florida and many more demonstrate how ships behave when they hit icebergs - and it may not happen the way that you expect!Here is 'The Mechanics of Ship Collisions' by Zhang;https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/5436875/Zhang.pdfOther papers that support this;https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245448008_Crushing_of_Ship_Bows_In_Head-On_Collisionhttps://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/77770https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/crushing-of-ship-bows-in-head-on-collisionJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsE8PTncfn2Vga48jH46HnQ/joinSupport us on Patreon! As the ship had collision bulkheads in the bow, it would most likely have survived the damage. If only one or two of the compartments had been opened, >Titanic</i> might have stayed afloat, but when so many . As the Titanic was designed to remain underwater with four watertight compartments, such a catastrophic loss of life could have been avoided. Titanic was also built with head on collisions in mind. What was Scrub Daddy originally made for? Are Reese's made with real peanut butter? Which is the most effective way to prevent viral foodborne illnesses? Is this answer wrong? Besides: even if the Titanic's maiden voyage had been successful, If only four of the Titanic's watertight compartments had been breached, it would have stayed afloat. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The White Star Line ship hit an iceberg off the coast of Nova Scotia on April 14th, 1912. If the centre propeller had been designed to keep working when in reverse, its likely that the Titanic would have avoided the iceberg completely.