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Titanics LifeboatsFactAt the British Inquiry into the Titanic disaster Sir Alfred Chambers of the Board of Trade wasasked why regulations governing the number of lifeboats required on passenger ships had notbeen updated since 1896. Sir Alfred stated that he felt there were too many lifeboats. He saidthat if there had been fewer lifeboats there would have been more of a rush to fill them and sothey would have left full and consequently more people would have been saved.

FactTitanic carried 20 lifeboats enough for 1178 people. The existing Board of Trade required apassenger ship to provide lifeboat capacity for 1060 people. Titanics lifeboats were situated onthe top deck. The boat was designed to carry 32 lifeboats but this number was reduced to 20because it was felt that the deck would be too cluttered.

FactTitanic alsocarried 3500lifebelts and 48

life rings. Useless in the icywater.

FactMany people were confusedabout where they should goafter the order to launch thelifeboats had been given.There should have been alifeboat drill on 14th April, butthe Captain cancelled it toallow people to go to church.

FactAt the investigation that followed, those responsible for loading the lifeboats argued that thelifeboats did not look strong enough to carry 65 people. However, the lifeboats had been testedin Belfast on 25th March 1912 with 70 men being carried in each.

FactCollapsible boat B floated intothe sea upside down. Asmany as 30 men stood on theupturned hull until rescued.

FactPeople did not believe that theTitanic was sinking. Manythought it was a drill andstayed inside rather than waiton the icy boat deck.

Boat 1 - 40 1.105 First Class7 Crew

Boat 2 40 1.458 First Class10 Thrid Class3 Crew4 others

Boat 3 65 1.0025 First Class15 Crew1 dog

Boat 4 65 1.5523 First Class1 Servant6 Third Class12 Crew

Boat 5 65 12.5531 First Class7 Crew

Boat 6 65 12.5520 First Class2 Crew6 Others1 dog

Boat 7 65 12.4522 First Class3 Crew3 Others1 dog

Boat 8 65 1.1026 First Class4 Crew2 Others

Boat 9 65 1.206 First Class17 Second Class3 Third Class15 Crew

Boat 10 65 1.209 First Class17 Second Class6 Third Class4 Crew

Boat 11 65 1.255 First Class14 Second Class6 Third Class24 Crew

Boat 12 65 1.2515 Second Class1 Third Class4 Crew

Boat 13 65 1.351 First Class13 Second Class27 Third Class24 Crew

Boat 14 65 1.304 First Class24 Second Class4 Third Class15 Crew

Boat 15 65 1.351 First Class1 Second Class38Third Class25 Crew

Boat 16 65 1.353 Second Class

23 Third Class

11 Crew

Collapsible A 473 First Class8 Third Class

5 Crew

Collapsible B 473 First Class1 Second Class

5 Third Class18 Crew

Collapsible C 47 1.402 First Class

36 Third Class6 Crew

Collapsible D 47 2.057 First Class

2 Second Class9 Third Class7 Crew

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National Curriculum Levels 3 + 4

Answer the following questions in your exercise books

1. Make a timeline to show the actual order that the lifeboats were launched.

2. Why did Sir Alfred Chambers think that more people would have been saved ifTitanic had fewer lifeboats?

3. What reasons can you find to explain why passengers did not rush to fill thelifeboats?

4. Do you think that the White Star Line was responsible for the lifeboats notbeing filled? (give reasons)

5. Do you think that Captain Smith was responsible for the lifeboats not beingfilled? (give reasons)

National Curriculum Levels 5 + 6

Answer the following questions in your exercise books

1. Make a timeline to show the actual order that the lifeboats were launched.

2. What evidence is there to show that there was confusion in filling andlaunching the lifeboats by:

a. The passengersb. The crew

3. What evidence is there to show that the care and safety of the passengers wasnot given priority by:

a. The White Star Line

b. The crew

4. The first lifeboat to be launched was not launched until 12.45. 1 hour and 5minutes after the collision.

a. Why do you think there was more than an hours delay between thecollision and the launching of the first lifeboat?

b. If the first lifeboat had been launched earlier do you think that more peoplewould have been saved? (give reasons)

5. Look at the information relating to which passengers were saved in which boat.Can you draw any conclusions from this information?