Comparison with the Olympic class RMS Lusitania

olympic arriving @ port on maiden voyage june 1911, lusitania departing in background

the vessels of olympic class differed lusitania , mauretania in way in compartmented below waterline. white star vessels divided transverse watertight bulkheads. while lusitania had transverse bulkheads, had longitudinal bulkheads running along ship on each side, between boiler , engine rooms , coal bunkers on outside of vessel. british commission had investigated sinking of titanic in 1912 heard testimony on flooding of coal bunkers lying outside longitudinal bulkheads. being of considerable length, when flooded, these increase ship s list , make lowering of boats on other side impracticable — , precisely later happened lusitania. ship s stability insufficient bulkhead arrangement used: flooding of 3 coal bunkers on 1 side result in negative metacentric height. on other hand, titanic given ample stability , sank few degrees list, design being such there little risk of unequal flooding , possible capsize.

lusitania did not carry enough lifeboats passengers, officers , crew on board @ time of maiden voyage (carrying 4 lifeboats fewer titanic carry in 1912). common practice large passenger ships @ time, since belief in busy shipping lanes nearby , few boats available adequate ferry aboard rescue ships before sinking. after titanic sank, lusitania , mauretania equipped additional 6 clinker-built wooden boats under davits, making total of 22 boats rigged in davits. rest of lifeboat accommodations supplemented 26 collapsible lifeboats, 18 stored directly beneath regular lifeboats , 8 on after deck. collapsibles built hollow wooden bottoms , canvas sides, , needed assembly in event had used.

this contrasted olympic , britannic received full complement of lifeboats rigged under davits. difference have been major contributor high loss of life involved lusitania s sinking, since there not sufficient time assemble collapsible boats or life-rafts, had not been fact ship s severe listing made impossible lifeboats on port side of vessel lowered, , rapidity of sinking did not allow remaining lifeboats directly lowered (as these rigged under davits) filled , launched passengers. when britannic, working hospital ship during world war i, sank in 1916 after hitting mine in kea channel davited boats swiftly lowered saving on board, ship took 3 times long sink lusitania , crew had more time evacuate passengers.