Why did people say the Titanic was unsinkable?

Answer 1

one word -- HUBRIS

Answer 2

First, from ABC Net Great Moments in Science:

"Now secondly, the myth that the Titanic was advertised as "unsinkable" is widely believed - but this too is wrong.

However, the phrase "practically unsinkable" was used in the 1908 Souvenir Edition of "The Shipbuilder", in an advertisement for the Cunard ship, the Mauretania. (Cunard was the opposition to the White Star Line, which operated the Titanic). The ad ran, "Practically Unsinkable owing to the Watertight Bulkhead Doors being hydraulically controlled by the Stone-Lloyd System". The exact sentence used in an article about the Titanic was, "The Captain, may, by simply moving an electric switch, instantly close the doors throughout and make the vessel practically unsinkable". This was in the context of the ship having a double bottom (one layer of steel inside another) and 16 watertight compartments. Even if four of these were flooded, the ship would still float. However, the compartments were watertight only on five sides - they were open at the top."

As to why it sank anyway, from Wikipedia:

"A collision turned out to be inevitable, and the ship's starboard (right) side brushed the iceberg, buckling the hull in several places and popping out rivets below the waterline, creating a total of six leaks in the first five watertight compartments. Murdoch then ordered the ship hard right rudder which swung Titanic's stern away from the iceberg. The watertight doors were shut as water started filling the five compartments --one more than Titanic could stay afloat with. "

More information at the two links below!

Answer 3

at the time, it had a revolutionary design. It's like an ice cube tray, you fill one area up with water, and keep going, eventually it will fill up the whole thing. The design was to have it hold a few compartments filled with water, if it has a leak, and yet it could still keep going. On paper it was a good idea, and is used to a degree on some ships today, but if the breach was larger it failed. Like the one as big as the iceburg it hit. If the iceburg was smaller, it could have made it a lot further than it did. Like a Runflat tire, that can let you go 200 miles on it with a flat, sort of the same thing with the Titanic. If you look it up, you should find something that comfirms what I said.

Answer 4

Because there were two layers to the bottom of the boat. There was the outside metal layer, and an inside wooden layer. It was disigned so that if it hit an iceberg, the wooden layer would keep water out until the ship could reach the next port. However, there was a fire on the inside wooden part making a hole in the bottom before they even set sail. If this wouldn't have happened or if the captain would have postponed the trip until it could have been fixed, the Titanic might not have sunk.

Answer 5

The people thought the Titanic was unsinkable because it was so fabulous. They thought anything that fantastic couldn't sink. It just goes to show that everything is God's will. Nothing made by man is indestructible.

Answer 6

Public Relations "spin"

Answer 7

Listen to Yahzmin!!! Not the rest of those clowns who are either inaccurate or who answer a question with a question. GO YAHZMIN!!!!

Answer 8

i think it was cuz it was so big and modern with lots of state of the art radars and stuff like that.

Answer 9

i think it is because it was big and made of metal. people think of big stuff as strong if they dont think enough

Answer 10

why?