The Titanic

The detail I really would like to have a definite, objective answer on is whether it's true that the porthole was certified safe to withstand pressure to a depth of 1500 metres, and not beyond. Because 4000 metres is most definitely not 1500.
My general feeling is that where there is big money to be made from high risk expeditions of this kind, corners will be cut if they have to be. Or even if they don't. Mutatis mutandis, this reminds me of the 1996 Everest disaster: 10th May was the worst single day in high-altitude mountaineering history. You've got to pay very, very big bucks to be on an expedition to summit Everest (and be a proven mountaineer too, of course, although not at the level of the group leaders). The Hilary Step bottleneck meant that group leaders had to make a decision on turning back or summiting far later than the time considered safe (some very experienced mountaineers like Ed Viesturs consider that you shouldn't be up at the summit of an 8000m + mountain much after midday — if you can't make it, turn back and to hell with it). But they were obviously under huge pressure from people who'd flown across the world to do this, who'd waited the whole season for it — indeed, who'd waited their whole lives to do it — and who'd paid very large sums of money for the privilege. Not to mention the effort of climbing from base camp over several days. And if you turn back, the weather may not allow you a second chance. Ever again. So they made a bad call. There were climbers still at the top taking photos of each other at 4 p.m, and some still trying to get up at 5 p.m. Eight men and women lost their lives that night (astoundingly, one guy, a Texan, survived through the blizzard all night in an open bivouac, miracle doesn't describe it — his lost his right arm below the elbow, the four fingers and thumb on his left hand, and his nose had to be reconstructed, but he's still alive to tell the tale today).
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
The detail I really would like to have a definite, objective answer on is whether it's true that the porthole was certified safe to withstand pressure to a depth of 1500 metres, and not beyond. Because 4000 metres is most definitely not 1500.
My general feeling is that where there is big money to be made from high risk expeditions of this kind, corners will be cut if they have to be. Or even if they don't. Mutatis mutandis, this reminds me of the 1996 Everest disaster: 10th May was the worst single day in high-altitude mountaineering history. You've got to pay very, very big bucks to be on an expedition to summit Everest (and be a proven mountaineer too, of course, although not at the level of the group leaders). The Hilary Step bottleneck meant that group leaders had to make a decision on turning back or summiting far later than the time considered safe (some very experienced mountaineers like Ed Viesturs consider that you shouldn't be up at the summit of an 8000m + mountain much after midday — if you can't make it, turn back and to hell with it). But they were obviously under huge pressure from people who'd flown across the world to do this, who'd waited the whole season for it — indeed, who'd waited their whole lives to do it — and who'd paid very large sums of money for the privilege. Not to mention the effort of climbing from base camp over several days. And if you turn back, the weather may not allow you a second chance. Ever again. So they made a bad call. There were climbers still at the top taking photos of each other at 4 p.m, and some still trying to get up at 5 p.m. Eight men and women lost their lives that night (astoundingly, one guy, a Texan, survived through the blizzard all night in an open bivouac, miracle doesn't describe it — his lost his right arm below the elbow, the four fingers and thumb on his left hand, and his nose had to be reconstructed, but he's still alive to tell the tale today).
Click to expand...
Serious question. If you are implying that it was the porthole that failed, how do you know that?
 
kaz7 said:
I agree, like i said there was no benefit for this experdition other than a smart arse man making lots of money
Click to expand...
Yep, my boss makes millions every year and gets away with making people cut corners every day. He’s on land and can get away with it.
 
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