Titanic's North Atlantic Voyage: Departure, Sinking & Legacy

Titanic: The Maiden Voyage That Ended in Tragedy

The RMS Titanic did not "sail the North Atlantic" as a routine crossing—it sank on its very first voyage after striking an iceberg.

Timeline

• April 10, 1912, 12:00 PM: Departs Southampton, England.
• April 10, 6:35 PM: Cherbourg, France (passengers/mail).
• April 11, 11:30 AM: Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland (final passengers).
• April 14, 11:40 PM: Strikes iceberg at 41°46'N, 50°14'W (approx. 375 mi south of Newfoundland).
• April 15, 2:20 AM: Sinks in North Atlantic (depth ~3,800 m).

Key Facts

• Route: Great Circle route Southampton → New York.
• Passengers & crew: 2,224 aboard; 710 survived (705 by Carpathia).
• Cause: Excessive speed in ice field, insufficient lookouts, design flaws (watertight bulkheads not capped).
• Wreck discovered: 1985 by Ballard/IFREMER at 3,800 m.

Legacy

• SOLAS Convention (1914) – lifeboats for all, 24-hr radio watch, ice patrol (IIP).
• Cultural touchstone: films, books, exhibitions, deep-sea tourism.
• Wreck protected by UNESCO 2001 Convention.