From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 The Titanic leaving Belfast for sea trials, 2 April 1912. | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | British |
| Owners: | White Star Line |
| Builders: | Harland and Wolff shipyard, Belfast |
| Captain: | Edward John Smith |
| Port of registry: | Liverpool, England |
| Laid down: | 31 March 1909 |
| Launched: | 31 May 1911 |
| Christened: | Not christened |
| Maiden voyage: | 10 April 1912 |
| Fate: | Struck an iceberg at 23:40 on 14 April 1912. Sank on 15 April 1912, at 02:20; wreck discovered in 1985 by Robert Ballard. |
| Current location: | |
| General characteristics | |
| Gross tonnage: | 46,328 GRT |
| Displacement: | 52,310 Long Tons |
| Length: | 882 foot 9 inches (269 m) |
| Beam: | 92 foot 6 inches (28 m) |
| Draught: | 34 foot 7 inches (10.5 m) |
| Power: | 25 double-ended and 4 single-ended Scotch boilers at 215 psi. Two four-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating engines each producing 16,000 hp (12 MW) for outer two propellers. One low-pressure (about 7 psi absolute) steam turbine producing 18,000 hp (13.5 MW) for the center propeller. Total 50,000 hp (37 MW) |
| Propulsion: | Two bronze triple-blade side propellers. One bronze quadruple-blade central propeller. |
| Service speed: | 21 knots (40.6 km/h) (24.5 mph) |
| Top speed: | 23.75 knots (42.6 km/h) (26.5 mph) |
| Number of passengers (maiden voyage): | 1912 - Total 2,208
|
RMS Titanic was an Olympic class passenger liner that became infamous for her collision with an iceberg on 14 April 1912 and dramatic sinking on 15 April 1912. The second of a trio of superliners, Titanic and her sisters were designed to provide a three-ship weekly express service and dominate the transatlantic travel business for the White Star Line.[1]
Built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world at the time of her sinking. During Titanic's maiden voyage (from Southampton, England; to Cherbourg, France; Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland; then New York City), she struck an iceberg at 23:40 (ship's time) on Sunday 14 April 1912, sinking two hours and forty minutes later at 02:20 on Monday 15 April, having broken into two pieces at the aft expansion joint.[2]
Titanic was designed to compete with rival company Cunard Line's Lusitania and Mauretania, luxurious ships and the fastest liners on the Atlantic. Titanic and its Olympic class sisters, Olympic and the then upcoming Gigantic,[2][3] were intended to be the largest, most luxurious ships ever to operate (The planned name Gigantic was changed to Britannic after the disaster). Titanic was designed by Harland and Wolff chairman William Pirrie, head of Harland and Wolff's design department Thomas Andrews and general manager Alexander Carlisle, with the plans regularly sent to the White Star Line's managing director J. Bruce Ismay for suggestions and approval. Construction of the Titanic, funded by the American J.P. Morgan and his International Mercantile Marine Co., began on 31 March 1909. Titanic No. 401 was launched two years and two months later on 31 May 1911. Titanic's outfitting was completed on 31 March the following year.
Titanic was 882 feet 9 inches (269 m) long and 92 feet 6 inches (28 m) at the beam (6 inches longer than twin ship RMS Olympic). She had a Gross Register Tonnage of 46,328 tons, and a height from the water line to the boat deck of 60 feet (18 m). She contained two reciprocating four-cylinder, triple-expansion, inverted steam engines and one low-pressure Parsons turbine. These powered three propellers. There were 25 double-ended and 4 single-ended Scotch-type boilers fired by 159 coal burning furnaces that made possible a top speed of 23 knots (43 km/h). Only three of the four 63 foot (19 m) tall funnels were functional; the fourth, which served only as a vent, was added to make the ship look more impressive. Titanic could carry a total of 3,547 passengers and crew and, because she carried mail, her name was given the prefix RMS (Royal Mail Steamer) as well as SS (Steam Ship).
The Titanic was considered a pinnacle of naval architecture and technological achievement, and was thought by The Shipbuilder magazine to be "practically unsinkable". Titanic had a double-bottom hull, containing 44 tanks for boiler water and ballast to keep the ship safely balanced at sea[4] (later ships also had a double-walled hull). Titanic exceeded the lifeboat standard, with 20 lifeboats (though not enough for all passengers). Titanic was divided into 16 compartments by doors held up, i.e. in the open position, by electro-magnetic latches and which could be closed by a switch on the ship's bridge.
