Had you been captain of the Titanic, what would you have tried to avoid hitting the iceberg?

Question

If I remember history correctly, the captain employed full reverse.

Answer 1

if i were captain, i wouldn't have ignored all the ice warnings from other boats in the area and steered clear of the north atlantic. Go around the ice, not dodge in between it

Answer 2

Captain Smith did alter course to pass well South of the known field of Icebergs. however he was unaware that, that year had an unusual amount of Ice shedding and drifting beyond the normal danger area. Had he been making his normal transients and not involved in the Commissioning of the Titanic he may have been aware of it. Captain Smith was also not proceeding at best speed as often reported. In fact he was not using all boilers. As this was a 'Shake Down' Cruise he was alternating use of the boilers so the men could check the ones taken 'Off Line'. Discovery did a very good documentary of little know contributing events, like: The lookouts binoculars were locked away and the Officer who put them there left the ship with the key before sailing. The rude response of the Titanic's Radio Operator, caused the California's Radio Operator to give up on relaying the Ice Danger message to the Titanic. There was also one message regarding the southerly extent of the Icebergs that was not delivered to the Bridge as it had been improperly addressed. From another source I've heard that given the events that brought the Titanic to the moment the Iceberg was sighted; the only action that would have made a difference was, No Action. Had the Titanic not attempted to turn and hit the Iceberg head-on it would have problem only flooded the first or possibly second compartment in which case it could have stayed afloat. The extent of damage that occurred was due to improper metallurgy in some of the rivets that were used. It was failure of these rivets that caused the breach of the hull. The metal did not tear for 300 feet as reported.

Answer 3

at the last moment? No, it would have been best to hit head on, the bow was re-enforced, and wuold not have openned up the first 6 watertight compartments, she would have 100% survived the collision. Captain smith ws on his last cruise as a Captain of an ocean liner, he was the senior most Captain employed by the white star line, he had Captained several ocean liners, but none as large as the Titanic, he had a minor collision with a US Ship in port, and nearly ran agrounnd in Ireland, he had no experience with such a large ship, nor had any other. He should have not gone the northern most route,, that time of year, but he wanted to go out on top, setting the cross atlantic at a new record spreed, and with the largest and most luxious ship to that date, plus there was a little bonus promised. Once again, Money is what caused the collision, the owners wanted a speed record, which would generate more customers, which brings more money in. Smith knew better, he just got lax and greedy

Answer 4

Back then, the Titanic was the biggest thing. Everyone thought that it could not sink. Everybody's hopes were up so high and no one thought that there was a chance of danger. The captain did not believe that the Titanic would sink, and therefore didn't care about the dangers. Anybody now(of course) would say they wouldn't hit it, but back then (with the medias influence of this "unsinkable" ship) no one actually cared until they were too close to turn.

Answer 5

The captain was very remiss in not heeding warnings he had been given.........but rather wanted to make an ocean crossing in record time so he had the engines fired up and they were traveling way too fast for conditions. His pride in his ship took the place of common sense. Nothing could have been done to save that ship once it struck the iceberg at such a high rate of speed.

Answer 6

the captain did not employ full reverse-the first officer did!!-by the time captain smith was aware there was a problem the titanic had already struck the iceberg-so there was nothing he could do.

Answer 7

How many were there who canceled their passage because of warning dreams and/ or premonitions? There were quite a few who did not board because of this. In that respect I have to say it was fate. Hindsight is always 20/20.

One must remember that is was also a blue ribbon crossing where prudence and caution was thrown into the wind. The days and hours counted for prestige.

Answer 8

There was also a warning concerning the seas they were sailing that day. Thier speed remained the same despite several notes to the captain concerning poor visibility & possible floaters. I'd like to think that if I were cptain, I would have taken the warnings more seriousily & slowed my speed & doubled my outlooks>

Answer 9

I would have not sailed the North Atlantic. That was basically a death wish. I also would have kept my eye on the sea instead of watching Jack and Rose doing it in that car!

Answer 10

Well, I believe he was not at the helm when it hit the berg. Even if he had, the lookouts didn't see it soon enough. They should have been the ones to do a better job of avoiding it!