One of the biggest criticism regarding Titanic was the fact that there were not enough lifeboats for everyone on-board the ship. It was felt that if there were enough lifeboats, then there would of been no loss of life. Although it seems inconceivable today to consider a huge ship leaving port without the appropriate number of lifeboats, Titanic actually had more lifeboats than it was legally-required based on the laws and regulations of April, 1912.
Originally, the White Star Line, Harland & Wolff, and Titanic's chief designer, Thomas Andrews, had devised a plan that Titanic would carry enough lifeboats for everyone on board. In consultation with the Wellin Company, it was agreed that Wellin would create a special, revolutionary davit that would be used to carry 48 lifeboats-more than enough room for all the people on-board Titanic that fateful evening. Unfortunately, the White Star Line later scrapped this plan feeling that all of these lifeboats cluttered the boat-deck and settled for a number of 32 boats. Since Titanic was made to be opulent and the boat-deck was a very popular place where well-to-do clientele went for their daily strolls, this supposed "eyesore" made White Star change their original plans. As Titanic was being fit out for service, White Star decided to reduce the number of lifeboats even more and a final total of 20 boats were placed on the ship- which was enough for only 1178 people. Unknown to White Star Line, their tragic decisions regarding the number of lifeboats were to translate into huge losses of life.
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