The Ship of all Nightmares

The Ship of all Dreams was one of many nicknames 3,327 souls bestowed upon their beloved ship: the Titanic. Heading from Southampton to New York, the voyage is still debated. Why is an unsinkable ship resting crumpled on the Atlantic floor? Only the tip of the iceberg is visible, less so when Titanic's features are scrutinised.

The Titanic was known around the world for its luxury and size. It comprised 4 lifts, ornate dining rooms, a grand staircase fit for a king, and a Turkish bath. Likewise, it boasted the first swimming pool (long-overfilled) on a commercial ship. Every room had electric heaters and electric lights and the steerage (third-class) cabins provided amenities unavailable in most passengers’ homes. A gymnasium inside the Titanic had a mechanical horse and camel. This floating palace attracted a number of notable figures such as William Thomas Stead, Benjamin Guggenheim, and John Jacob Astor. 

On April 14th, 11:40 pm, the water was still and the night was devoid of the moon: the Atlantic Ocean was against any idea of the Titanic spotting an iceberg. Frederick Fleet was shivering on the crow's nest when a menacing shadow appeared in front of him. “Iceberg right ahead!” Fleet alerted the bridge, where First Officer Murdoch acknowledged, alerting the engines. The engines stopped and the wheel was at full starboard. Fleet yelled: “Too late!” A crumbling, and ice fell onto the deck. The ship was unable to avoid a historic tragedy. Edward Smith, the captain, soon learnt of the Titanic’s fate, and the radio operators requested extraction from any nearby vessel. Carpathia arrived on the scene, but 100 minutes after the Titanic sank with 1,517 bodies floating in the abyss of nothingness.

The infamous iceberg was framed for the sinking of the Titanic. Nonetheless, other factors are also able to be blamed for the sinking. The rivets, support beams holding up structures, are made ideally from sturdy steel but cutting corners leads to iron. When the Titanic collided, the matchstick rivets snapped. The Titanic was deemed ‘Unsinkable’ due to its 15 watertight compartments. However, the bulkheads for these were short and water was able to flow over the wall, further into the ship. Overconfidence was another. A safety drill is usually performed on a passenger ship and firsthand experience respects this decision. The Titanic's drill was replaced by a church ceremony. Therefore, most of Titanic's crew, amateurs, were unaware of how to deploy lifeboats and the capacity for each lifeboat: a disaster of its own.

The Titanic, sleeping on the bed of the North Atlantic Ocean, has been lying for 112 years, leaving a profound impact on the community. Multiple films have been produced, including James Cameron's blockbuster. Titanic II is being produced as a replica of the original liner by Clive Palmer. The Titanic has become a toy of imagination and creativity, but the tragedy serves as a reminder of human errors and the impact of overconfidence.