Perhaps the most significant flaw in the design of the original RMS Titanic, was the fact that there simply was not enough lifeboats, to be able to even attempt to save all of the crew and passengers onboard.
The original design DID include many more lifeboats (32), but she only had 20. The the lifeboats were stored on the very uppermost deck, the ‘Boat Deck’ This was also a promenade for the first class passengers. Extra lifeboats would have made this deck more cluttered, leaving the passengers with less deck space.
However extra lifeboats were also deemed to be unnecessary, because the ship was though to be “virtually unsinkable”.
The RMS sailed on her tragic maiden voyage, with only enough lifeboats for 33% of the passengers and crew, which of course was a death sentence for the majority.
In contrast, Clive Palmer’s Titanic II will have to conform to all modern maritime safety regulations (SOLAS), which includes having modern lifeboats for 125% of the passengers/crew. (This is to ensure that there are spare spaces for passengers if not all lifeboats are accessible or are launched partially empty).
The Safety Deck
Titanic II will have an additional deck, called the “safety deck”, which was not a part of the original RMS Titanic’s design. Unfortunately, the details of the safety deck are still sketchy, as are the renderings. They are bound to be revised. Therefore, a bit of speculation will be required to interpret them.
Safety Deck, bow (courtesy Deltamarin)
The Safety Deck Analysis
The safety deck will be between C and D decks and its main purpose is to house the modern style (enclosed) lifeboats on a promenade deck for ease of boarding.
The boat deck (the very top/open deck) will accommodate replicas of the original lifeboats. These are unlikely to be for use and are probably mounted too high for safe deployment.
Space for the “Safety Deck” was made by lowering decks D and below by 2.8 metres and by raising the Superstructure by 1.3 metres. In spite of the reduced draft, space was made for the lowered decks by removing the Orlop deck, which mainly housed the boilers.
Looking at the deck plans above: It is worth noting that there are eight lifeboats (dual purpose as ‘tenders’) and one launch (rescue boat) each side, so a total of sixteen lifeboats.
It is also worth noting the location lifeboat access promenade decks, port and starboard, (labelled ‘exterior’ deck) and the two staircase ‘atriums’, forward and aft, giving good access to the deck. The promenades are there to facilitate lifeboat boarding.
Looking at the rendering below: which also lacks detail, you can count nine modern specification orange lifeboats and one launch on both the port and starboard sides of the vessel. These makes eighteen lifeboats in total. (Two more than the deck plan above)
Titanic II – Enough Lifeboats?
The rendering at the very top of the page shows nine lifeboats and one tender, on one side of the ship.
So there are up to eighteen lifeboats which will be motor driven, with a capacity for up to 250 people each. (RMS Titanic’s only held 65 passengers). That is a maximum of 4,500 spaces. This is well in excess of Titanic II’s proposed maximum passenger capacity of 2, 345 + 900 crew, giving a total of 3,245
The modern lifeboats are all motor driven, have modern communication equipment onboard and are enclosed for comfort.
As well as modern lifeboats on the Safety Deck, Palmer has said that there will be a medical centre, shop/s, a casino and a theatre, also located there.
Malcolm
More details about the SAFTY DECK – HERE
Titanic II News 