Trim and Heel

Introduction:

• The Titanic collided with an iceberg at 11:40 PM on April 14, 1912.
• The ship developed a slight list to starboard and began to settle by the head within 5 to 10 minutes after the collision.

Methodology:

• The analysis uses eyewitness accounts, lifeboat launch times, wireless transmission times, and other documented events to determine the ship’s trim and heel angles.
• Waterline curves from Hackett and Bedford’s work are used to map the flooding and trim angles over time.

Trim Angle Analysis:

• The trim angle is derived from observations of water levels in various compartments.
• Theoretical curves from Hackett and Bedford are compared with observational data.
• Key observations include water levels in the mailroom, holds, and boiler rooms.

Key Observations:

• Water was seen in Boiler Room No. 6 and the forward bunker in Boiler Room No. 5 shortly after the collision.
• The ship developed a 5-degree list to starboard due to asymmetrical flooding in Holds 2 and 3 and the starboard bunker in Boiler Room No. 5.
• The list to starboard corrected itself as water filled the port sides of Holds 2 and 3, and a list to port developed later due to flooding on E deck.

Angles of Heel:

• The initial list to starboard was about 5 degrees, confirmed by heeling moment analysis.
• The list to port later in the sinking process was estimated to be about 10 degrees based on eyewitness accounts and the gap between lifeboats and the ship’s side.
• Observations from Second Officer Lightoller and others provide insights into the trim and list near the end of the sinking.

Trim and List Views:

• Profile views of the Titanic at various stages of flooding are presented, showing the ship’s trim and list angles.
• Key events correlated with these views include lifeboat launches and observations of water levels on different decks.

Appendices:

• Appendix A lists key eyewitness observations regarding the flooding and condition of the ship.
• Appendix B provides an analysis of the initial list to starboard, including the contributions of asymmetrical flooding in various compartments.