Testing If She’s Seaworthy
While we already know the Titanic’s sad and doomed fate, it’s worth noting that it actually went through sea trials eight days before she left Southampton. The tests were held on Belfast Lough and involved the ship running a straight course over four hours.
According to Charles Lightoller, a second officer who witnessed these events, the ship went at a reasonable speed considering her mammoth size. Aside from safety, we imagine the Titanic’s makers wanted to ensure that the reported $7,500,000 investment they made in building her won’t go to waste.
