How well do you know the Titanic?
The Titanic's story still fascinates people more than a century later. Six questions, from easy to hard, about the ship and its lasting impact on safety at sea.
Did you know?
- The Titanic was about 269 metres long, roughly the length of two and a half football pitches. It had four funnels, although only three were used to release smoke; the fourth mainly helped ventilation.
- The wreck lies about 600 km off Newfoundland at a depth of around 3,800 metres. It broke into two main sections, which lie roughly 600 metres apart on the seabed.
- A bacterium discovered on the wreck was named Halomonas titanicae in 2010. It forms 'rusticles', icicle-like structures of rust that are gradually consuming the ship's steel.
A ship that changed maritime safety
The Titanic was a British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line and considered one of the most advanced ships of its time. Its sinking on its maiden voyage in 1912, with the loss of around 1,500 lives, shocked the world and led to lasting changes in how ships are built and operated.
A floating palace
The Titanic offered luxury for first-class passengers, including a grand staircase, a swimming pool and a gymnasium. Most passengers, however, travelled in second and third class, many of them emigrants hoping to start new lives in North America.
Radio and rescue
The Titanic's wireless operators sent distress signals, and the ship Carpathia arrived to rescue survivors. The disaster showed the importance of radio, and new rules required ships to keep radio watches around the clock.
Safety laws
In 1914, nations agreed the first International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). It set rules for lifeboats, lifeboat drills and radio, and updated versions of SOLAS still govern shipping today.
The International Ice Patrol
After the sinking, the International Ice Patrol was created to monitor icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. It still operates, using aircraft and satellites to warn ships of danger.
Studying the wreck
Since its discovery, the wreck has been studied with submersibles and robotic vehicles. Scientists have found that bacteria are slowly consuming the iron hull, and experts expect the wreck to deteriorate significantly over the coming decades.
Remembering the Titanic
The Titanic has been remembered in books, museums and films. Titanic Belfast, a museum near the shipyard where the ship was built, opened in 2012 for the centenary of the sinking. Memorials stand in Southampton, Belfast, Halifax and other cities, and the wreck is protected by international agreement as a maritime memorial.