Introduction
The Titanic was a British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. It was one of the deadliest commercial peacetime maritime disasters in modern history.
Construction and Maiden Voyage
The construction of the Titanic began on March 31, 1909, at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was designed to be the largest and most luxurious ship of its time, equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and safety features.
The Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, 1912, making stops in Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, before heading towards New York City.
Sinking
On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean at 11:40 pm ship's time. Despite efforts to avoid the collision and mitigate the damage, the ship's hull was severely compromised, leading to its eventual sinking.
Due to a shortage of lifeboats and inadequate emergency procedures, over 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster. The sinking of the Titanic prompted significant changes in maritime safety regulations and practices.
Legacy
The sinking of the Titanic remains one of the most well-known maritime disasters in history and has inspired numerous books, films, and documentaries. It continues to captivate the public's imagination and serves as a cautionary tale about the hubris of human ambition and the consequences of negligence.