Wreck Of Titanic Research Paper

The Wreck of the RMS Titanic

Nick E. Mohler

English 12 Honors

November 17, 2014

Stansbury

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to consider and evaluate the wreck of the RMS Titanic, as well as its impact on the modern world. The objective of this is to provide information regarding the RMS Titanic’s various aspects, such as its accomplishments and achievements, as well as its imperfections constituting to the wreck. Economic aspects will be observed through the varying social classes of the passengers on the ship. The wreck of the RMS Titanic has significantly influenced our modern world (primarily focused on nautical travel). Standards and regulations have been changed, in accordance to the wreck, allowing for safer travel across

open seas. Upon observation and examination, it is evident that the tragedy of the RMS Titanic created significant adjustments to our modern means of sea travel, as well our view on social class.

The RMS Titanic
The sinking of the RMS Titanic was a devastating event that emphasized the hubris of architectural technology, the contrast of social classes, and the advancement of higher standards for nautical travel.

I. Building
A. Structure
1. Built by the White Star Line
a. $7.5 million
b. Largest manmade moving object
2. Size/Weight
a. 46,000 tons
b. 882.5 feet long
B. Process
1. Construction started in 1909
a. Constructed by 3,000 men
b. 2 years to build
2. Completion Date
a. May 31, 1911
b. Belfast, Ireland
II. The Ship
A. Levels/Capacity
1. Capacity
a. 2,223 passengers (3,295 total capacity)
2. Lifeboats
a. 20 available lifeboats
b. Maximum capacity: 1,178
B. Social Class
1. Rich vs. Poor
a. More survivors in first class than any other class
2. Class Divisions
a. First Class, Second Class, Third Class
III. The Wreck
A. Reason
1. Collision with Iceberg
a. 11:40 a.m. in the Atlantic Ocean
b. Defective rivets
c. Collision at 22.5 knots
2. Watertight Compartments
a. 16 total
b. 5 flooded compartments
B. Casualties/Salvage
1. Casualties and Survivors
a. 1,517 passenger casualties
b. 706 Survivors
2. Salvage Attempts
a. Found September, 1985
b. Attempted to be salvaged in 1996
IV. Lasting Impacts
A. Change In Nautical Standards
1. Evacuation drills requirement
a. Life boats for entire passenger capacity
2. International Ice Patrol
a. Group designated to monitor icebergs
B. Insurance Claims
1. Red Cross Support Fund
a. $161,600 raised for survivors and families of victims
2. Ship Insured for $5 million
a. Over $16 million worth of insurance claims from wreck

Conclusion – The RMS Titanic was a historic, potentially avoidable disaster that impacted the world and future, setting new standards for nautical travel.

The Wreck of the RMS Titanic
The early 1900’s were a time of great prosperity worldwide.

Many significant inventions and ideas led to the development of a more “modern” world. One of these ideas led to the creation of one of the most historic and tragic events in human history. The RMS Titanic was a British passenger ship constructed in 1911. The ship was known as a marvel of technology, an “unsinkable” ship. The RMS Titanic was constructed over the course of 26 months (1909-1911), alongside its sister ship, the RMS Olympic. The ship was designed to be the largest, most luxurious ocean liner of all time, surpassing all other ships in size, speed, and luxury. The Titanic’s route of travel was from Southampton, England, to New York City. The Titanic’s maiden voyage was intended to last 7 days, from April 10th, 1912, to April 17th, 1912. The ship’s fateful demise occurred on the night of April 14th, 1912, in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. approximately 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. The ship struck the iceberg along its starboard side of the ship, creating a 300 feet long intrusion into the ship main hull. The intrusion ruptured five of the ships 16 watertight compartments, causing the ship to flood and take on water. The ship sent out a distress beacon, without any luck. At 2:40 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sunk into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The Titanic will forever be remembered as a monumental tragedy of the early 20th century, demonstrating technological advancement, the varying of social classes, as well as the hubris created around the “unsinkable”

ship.
Building
The Titanic was known as a technological and industrial marvel of its time. The ship boasted distinct luxury across all platforms as well as its mass in size. The Titanic demonstrated the hubris formed from the creators of the “unsinkable” ship.
The RMS Titanic was constructed by the White Star Line; a leading British shipping company of the early 1900’s. The RMS Titanic was the largest ocean liner during the time of its creation. It received great recognition from the White Star Line, claiming the ship to be unsinkable. According to Johnston (2014) The Titanic “was built for a shipping company called the White Star Line at a reported cost of $7.5 million” (para. 4). Titanic’s main hull spanned approximately 882.5 feet, making it the largest manmade, moveable object created during the 20th century. The ship was outfitted with 20 life boats, the requirement being 16 for ships weighing in excess of 10,000 tons. As said by Gavin and Zarr (2012) “The lack of sufficient lifeboats was chief among the reasons cited for the enormous loss of life” (para. 5). Four funnels were attached to the hull of the ship, three of which were operational. The fourth funnel was added to the ship, due to the White Star Line’s claim of making the Titanic look more impressive (The WPA Film Library, 1912).
Construction of the RMS Titanic began on March 31, 1909 in Belfast, Ireland. A team of 3,000 men constructed the ship over the course of two years. Trials for the RMS Titanic began on April 2, 1912, two days before her maiden voyage. The Titanic’s trials were used to test its durability, as well as maneuverability, before passengers were aboard the ship. These trials were passed with succession, allowing the ship to depart for its journey.
The RMS Titanic housed passengers divided into three classes, crew members, and shipments and parcels of mail for delivery. The story of the Titanic emphasizes the division of social classes during the early 20th century. While the journey was originally intended for only the richest members of the upper class, many middle and lower class passengers were allowed on board the ship. As put by Johnston (2014), luxury was enhanced, while safety was put second hand.
The RMS Titanic was capable of accommodating up to 3,295 passengers. 2,223 passengers were aboard the ship on its maiden voyage, as said by Gavin and Zarr (2012). Nearly 900 of the passengers aboard the ship were crew members. The crew members were divided into eight categories including officers, deck crew, engineering crew, victualing crew, restaurant crew, postage staff, orchestra, and the guarantee crew. The ship’s 20 lifeboats could accommodate a maximum capacity of 1,178 passengers, roughly half of the passengers aboard the ship. “There were still not enough spaces for most passengers to escape the sinking ship” (Gavin & Zarr, 2012, para. 5). This was due to the White Star Line’s assurance of the ship’s fortitude and inability to sink.
Although the Titanic was originally designed for the wealthy, upper class British citizens, the White Star Line offered second and third class tickets to middle class citizens. Passenger tickets for the voyage of the Titanic ranged from £3 to £870 (estimated $172 to $50,000 modern US currency). Third class passengers were separated by locked gates, guarded by crew members. The separation of classes was designed to prevent disease and uncleanliness from spreading to the second and first class passengers. However, as stated by Cummins (2008), “prominent multimillionaires like John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim perished alongside working-class immigrants from all over Europe”. The varying classes aboard the Titanic created controversy that has survived since the tragedy. Very few of the third class passengers survived the wreck compared to first class passengers (approximately 25% versus 62% survival rate of each class). During the evacuation of the ship, women and children were valued most and many first class men stay aboard the ship, allowing room for women and children in first and second classes.
The Wreck
On the night of April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ship struck its starboard side traveling at an estimated 22.5 knots (Marcus, 2014). The collision resulted in the rupturing of five of the Titanic’s 16 watertight compartments. Much criticism was given to the captain of the Titanic, Edward J. Smith, although he perished in the wreckage. It was believed that Captain Smith was determined to cross the Atlantic in record time, due to the Titanic’s three engines, providing speed and power never seen before on a passenger liner. The Titanic traveled at nearly top speed throughout its journey, even after receiving broadcasted warnings of ice. “According to one theory, Captain Smith took such risks to set a speed record, which would have increased the fame of the White Star Line” stated by Johnston (2012, para. 7). Captain Smith’s ignorance to acknowledge the broadcasted warnings made many re-evaluate his intentions for captaining the ship.
The primary cause of the RMS Titanic’s wreck was due to its collision with an iceberg along its starboard side. The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912. The White Star Line had a low budget for the ship, although it was designed to be the most luxurious passenger liner of its time. “Titanic, fully outfitted, cost about $7.5 million” (Cummins, 2008, para. 1). Rivets securing the hull of the ship were inspected after the wreck. The rivets were found to be defective when under immense pressure, causing the ship’s hull to be structurally unsound.
The Titanic’s hull contained 16 watertight compartments. The compartments were designed to keep the ship buoyant and afloat. As many as two of the compartments could be filled entirely with water, and the ship would still remain afloat. The ship’s collision with the iceberg ruptured five of these compartments along the right side of the ship. “It was determined that the iceberg had sliced across five of the watertight compartments.” (Marcus, 2014, para. 5) As the compartments filled with water, the ship would become more immersed, raising its stern until the ship broke in half, leading both parts to submerge at 2:20 a.m., as stated by Johnston (2014). The 706 survivors who evacuated via lifeboat were later rescued by the RMS Carpathia, a passing liner that arrived at 4:00 a.m., more than an hour after the Titanic sunk.
Poor communication resulted in the large number of casualties among the passengers and crew. Captain Edward Smith was issued the first warning of icebergs via telegraph at 10:15 a.m. on April 14, slightly changing the route on the day of the wreck (Johnston, 2014). At 11:00 a.m., an evacuation drill of passengers and crew members was scheduled to take place, however this was cancelled by the captain for unknown reason.
Of the 2,223 passengers aboard the Titanic, 1,517 perished in the wreck of the ship, primarily due to hypothermia and cardiac arrest. Many of the 20 available lifeboats launched under their potential capacity. Many of the passengers believed that the ship was truly unsinkable, even after the ships collision with the iceberg, and refused their seat on a lifeboat.
After its sinking, the RMS Titanic remained at the bottom the Atlantic Ocean for more than half a century. On September 1st, 1985, a French/American team discovered the remains of the Titanic, located 13 miles from the coordinates of the site of the wreck. This ship submerged over 12,000 feet below the ocean surface in two separate parts. Many artifacts and personal belongings can be found around the sunken ship.
An attempt to salvage part of the hull was conducted on August 30th, 1996. An American team attempted to lift the hull using balloons, in an attempt to bring it to the surface. The attempt failed and the ship descended once again into the Atlantic Ocean. No further attempts will be made to salvage the ship, due to its structural weakness caused by bacteria consuming the rusted hull of the ship. Scientists estimated that the ship’s deterioration will continue for 50 years, until nothing remains.
Lasting Impacts
The sinking of the RMS Titanic had many significant lasting impacts, many of which are still present. Many nautical standards were raised in accordance of the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship. After the ship’s sinking, it was evident that lifeboats should be required for every passenger aboard a passenger liner, regardless of social class.
Due to Captain Smith’s choice to ignore the evacuation drill the day of the wreck, passenger liners are now legally required to conduct at least one evacuation drill during the course travel, to ensure safety among passengers. Additionally, lifeboat capacity was required for each passenger on a liner, regardless of class, and free of discrimination.
The International Ice Patrol is a global organization designed to monitor ice as well as temperature to protect traveling ships from the dangers of traveling in cold climates. The organization still protects ships to this day, ensuring the safety of those traveling in hazardous locations. The creation of the International Ice Patrol was one of the most significant impacts of the Titanic’s wreck (Marcus, 2014)
The American Red Cross created a Titanic Relief Fund upon the discovery of the wreck. The fund was led by Ernest P. Bicknell in an attempt to help compensate the survivors and victims for their losses. The group raised $161,600.95 for survivors and families of the victims.
After the wreck of the Titanic, survivors, as well as relatives of victims, sought compensation for their losses. The RMS Titanic was insured by White Star Line for $5,000,000. A total of $16,804,112 worth of claims for loss of life and property were filed in the United States against White Star Line.
Conclusion
The RMS Titanic will forever be known for its significance in the advancement of nautical standards. Its sheer amount of invincibility, brought down by a single iceberg, taking the lives of 1,517 of its passengers with it. The Titanic best demonstrates the level of hubris brought by the White Star Line. To claim a ship unsinkable, only for it to sink on its maiden voyage. How unfortunate, that tragedy must occur to open everyone’s eyes to bring about
change.

References
Cummins, V. H. (2008). Sinking of the Titanic. American History Online. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
Gavin, A., & Zarr, C. (2012). They said it couldn't sink. National Archives, Retrieved September 30, 2014.
Johnston, P. F. (2014). Titanic. Academic World Book. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
Marcus, G. J. (2014). Titanic. Encyclopedia Americana. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
The WPA Film Library. (2014, October 2). The Titanic leaves on its maiden voyage. Retrieved September 30, 2014.