The RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that became history's most infamous maritime disaster. Built in Belfast and completed in 1912, it was the largest ship afloat at 882 feet long and over 46,000 tons. The White Star Line marketed it as "practically unsinkable" due to advanced safety features including 16 watertight compartments. The ship's luxurious interiors rivaled the finest hotels, featuring grand staircases, swimming pools, and elegant dining rooms. On April 10, 1912, the Titanic departed Southampton on its maiden voyage to New York with approximately 2,224 passengers and crew, including wealthy elites and immigrants seeking new lives in America. Disaster struck on April 14-15, 1912, when the ship hit an iceberg at 11:40 PM in the North Atlantic. The collision punctured the hull, flooding more compartments than the ship could survive. Despite evacuation efforts, the Titanic sank at 2:20 AM on April 15. Over 1,500 people perished, with only 710 survivors rescued by the RMS Carpathia. The tragedy exposed critical safety deficiencies, particularly insufficient lifeboats. It led to major maritime reforms, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The wreck was discovered in 1985 by Robert Ballard, lying 12,500 feet underwater, where it continues to deteriorate while serving as both a memorial and subject of scientific study.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.