You’ve likely heard the story of the Titanic’s tragic irony. The ship, famously described as “unsinkable,” met its end after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. In hindsight, it seems almost absurd that anyone would assume a ship weighing over 50,000 tons (when fully loaded) was invulnerable. Indeed, many skeptics have argued that few people actually called the Titanic “unsinkable” before the disaster. While it’s difficult to determine whether people believed the ship was entirely incapable of sinking under any circumstances, it is clear that the passenger liner’s cutting-edge safety features (designed by Thomas Andrews) inspired significant confidence, and some did label it as “unsinkable” before its departure. Reportedly, this belief was enough to keep some passengers calm, even as the ship was actively sinking. A vice president of the company responsible for the voyage even told the U.S. Congress that he initially dismissed reports of the sinking because he believed the ship was unsinkable.
The notion of the Titanic’s unsinkability was promoted through newspaper and magazine articles as well as advertising materials from the shipping company. These widely distributed pieces highlighted the ship’s design and its advanced safety innovations. Chief among these was a system of 16 watertight compartments within the hull, which could be sealed off at the flip of a switch. It was believed that this feature would allow the ship to remain afloat even in the event of damage. While it’s an overstatement to claim that no one thought the ship unsinkable, it’s likely that, prior to the disaster, most people weren’t particularly focused on the question. The Titanic’s appeal was centered more on its opulence and luxury than on its safety. Most promotional materials emphasized its size and extravagant accommodations rather than its engineering features, and the wealthy passengers who boarded the ship were drawn by its prestige and comfort.
It wasn’t until after the Titanic’s tragic sinking that the “unsinkable” label gained widespread notoriety, likely for dramatic effect. So, while the Titanic was indeed touted as “unsinkable” before the disaster, it was the cruel irony of its fate that truly brought this claim into the spotlight.