Why were there so few lifeboats on theTitanic?

-- ("foo@bar.com"), November 12, 1998

Answers

Response to Titanic

There were 20 lifeboats on the Titanic, 16 "normal" ones and 4 collapsibles. They actually exceeded the amount required by law at that time. After the accident they changed the rules so that there be enough lifeboats for all on board.

In the past, the number of lifeboats required was worked out by gross tonnage, ie. how much the boat weighed. How stupid.

-- Emma (dilemma76@hotmail.com), November 12, 1998.

Because they did not want to make the ship look to cluttered

-- Darek Orbik (Daro-1@yahoo.com), April 06, 2004.