The Uncertain Fate of the RMS Titanic's Lifeboats: A Comprehensive Overview
When the RMS Titanic tragically sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, the fate of its lifeboats became a topic of considerable discussion and scrutiny. This article explores the details of what happened to the RMS Titanic's lifeboats, marking the significant events and the murky fate that followed.
The Lifeboats and Their Usage
The RMS Titanic was not fully equipped with its lifeboats due to a pervasive belief that the ship was unsinkable, which led to suboptimal planning and the use of only about half of the lifeboats on sister ships of the unsinkable theory. On the night of the sinking, the RMS Carpathia, which had come to the rescue, managed to retrieve 13 out of the 20 lifeboats on board the Titanic. These included 16 standard lifeboats and 4 collapsible rafts.
These retrieved lifeboats were only enough to fill the space on the Carpathia, leaving the other 7 behind in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Problem of Space: The Carpathia's Capacity
Once the Carpathia rescued the Titanic disaster survivors, a new issue arose: the ship did not have sufficient space to transport all 20 lifeboats to New York City. Consequently, only 13 lifeboats were ultimately taken back, while the remaining 7 were left behind in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, following the rescue mission.
The Unknown Fate in New York
In New York, the destination of the 13 lifeboats taken back by the Carpathia, their fate remains uncertain. White Star Line employees claimed that the lifeboats were destroyed, but this claim is not entirely supported. It is more likely that the lifeboats had all identifiable markings removed before being transferred to the RMS Olympic, Titanic's twin sister.
The Relocation and Reuse of Lifeboats
After the Titanic sank, it became a legal requirement that all ships be equipped with lifeboats for every passenger and crew member on board. This led to the reassignment and refitting of the lifeboats that were transferred to the Olympic. The Olympic likely utilized these lifeboats until it was taken out of service in 1935.
The Final Discard: The RMS Olympic and Scrapping
After the Olympic was decommissioned in the mid-1930s, it is highly probable that the lifeboats were disposed of alongside the ship. However, the fittings and furnishings from the Olympic were sold off and are now on display at various locations.
From this comprehensive overview, it is clear that the fates of the RMS Titanic's lifeboats are shrouded in uncertainty, with most likely scenarios involving their transfer to the sister ship, refit, and eventual disposal.