The Titanic was under the command of Captain E.J. Smith,
The Titanic sailed on the 10th April 1912 under the command of Captain E.J. Smith, he was well respected and considered a competent Mariner.
On this her maiden voyage he was 62 years of age and rumoured to be ready to retire. He was paid $6,250 per year with a $10,000 dollar bonus if none of the ships under his command were damaged within that year.
An iceberg warning had reached Captain Smith while he was dining with Ismay in the promenade room. A junior officer handed him the warning, which was taken from his hand by Ismay who joked icebergs were inevitable. He flippantly handed the note to the near passengers who likely joined in the joke. Ismay on landing in America chatted freely with newspaper reporters and appeared in good spirit. They talked about the large amount the Titanic was insured for compared to the smaller sum in cost for each voyage.
Captain Smith ignored iceberg warnings and allowed the lifeboats to be lowered at the wrong time. He was also accused of being one of the first to leave the ship. Inevitable many stories were exaggerated to enhance insurance claims each one blaming the other. Many vital questions went unanswered during the enquiry. Company signals were different from distress signals complicating emergency matters. The first lifeboat to leave the Titanic had only 12 people in it when it could hold 70 grown men. Not enough life boats were available to accommodate the passengers and crew. Excessive speed in the presence of ice flows was a contributing factor. Watertight compartments should have meant exactly that. The number and responsibility of lookouts in an emergency situation should have been clear. The binoculars on board the Titanic were locked away. To any ships Captain their use should have been obvious.
The total of passengers and crew of the Titanic was 2,206 of whom 1.503 were assumed lost. The number is not actually known.
apparently, the problem turned out to be the "lack of lifeboats".
Posted By: Tombs on February 2nd 2010 at 23:05:22
Message Thread
- I posted most of the drivel from the AGM tonight (NCFC) - conker, Feb 2, 22:47:03
- It came across (NCFC) - Klobo04, Feb 2, 23:00:56
- but so was the Titanic! (n/m) (NCFC) - jayson blair, Feb 2, 22:49:49
- He just drove it a bit too fast into some Icebergs.. (NCFC) - Small, Feb 2, 23:10:53
- The Titanic was under the command of Captain E.J. Smith, (NCFC) - Tombs, Feb 2, 23:05:22
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