Titanic famously sank on April 14, 1912, during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, US. The British passenger liner, under the captain of Edward Smith, had roughly 2,200 passengers on board when it collided with an iceberg shortly before midnight – an accident which saw more than 1,500 people lose their lives. However, that story is not the real case, according to a former professional mariner, who is experienced in the waters of the North Atlantic – where Titanic sank.
Captain L. M. Collins released a book in 2002 titled “The Sinking of the Titanic, An Ice Pilot’s Perspective,” where he proposed three reasons why he believed Titanic actually hit pack ice.
Following the release of the book, he said: “I am convinced beyond everything that it was impossible to hit an iceberg.
“Instead, the Titanic transited a strip of Arctic pack ice.
“Arctic pack ice is multi-year-old ice, a very hard ice.
Titanic sunk in 1912, killing thousands (Image: GETTY)
More than 1,500 people lose their lives. (Image: GETTY)
I am convinced beyond everything that it was impossible to hit an iceberg
Captain Collins
“Numerous ships sunk the same way, by slicing open the hull.
“There is no credible evidence that Titanic hit or was in contact with an iceberg.”
Captain Collins detailed in the book how roughly 10 minutes before the sinking, the two lookouts spotted what they believed to be haze on the horizon, extending approximately 20 degrees on either side of the ship's bow.
Captain Collins claimed what they actually saw was not haze but a strip of pack ice.
He also detailed how the ice was reported as 60 ft high by the lookouts, 100 ft high by Quartermaster Rowe on the deck, and only very low in the water by Fourth Officer Boxhall.
Titanic hit an iceberg during its
