1912 14th April
Californian Ice Warning
Sends Titanic a wireless message warning that Californian is stopped among ice.
RMS Titanic · permanent subject timeline
SS Californian and Titanic
The nearby ship whose actions became a major subject of investigation. This page combines historical context with 14 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Titanic archive.
Historical context
SS Californian and Titanic: overview and significance
What happened?
SS Californian had stopped for ice during the night of 14–15 April. Evidence about rockets, wireless arrangements and the ship seen from Californian became a major issue in the official inquiries.
Why was it important?
The Californian controversy raised fundamental questions about lookout, distress signals and the responsibilities of nearby ships. It remains one of the most debated operational aspects of the disaster.
World History Database records
SS Californian and Titanic timeline
The records below are selected from the 241-record RMS Titanic archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1912
1912 14th April
Californian Stops for Ice
Stops Californian for the night after encountering a field of ice in the North Atlantic.
1912 14th April
Nearby Ship Observation
Observes a nearby passenger vessel while Californian is stopped for ice and tries to signal it by Morse lamp.
1912 15th April
Californian Midnight Watch
Takes the midnight watch aboard Californian while the ship is stopped among ice.
1912 15th April
Morse Lamp Signalling
Attempts to contact the nearby vessel from Californian by Morse lamp but receives no reply.
1912 15th April
Reports of White Rockets
Receives reports from the bridge that white rockets are being seen in the direction of a nearby vessel.
1912 15th April
Rocket Report to Captain Lord
Reports to Captain Lord that eight white rockets have been observed and that the nearby ship has disappeared from view.
1912 15th April
Titanic Loss Learned by Wireless
Learns by wireless that Titanic has sunk after resuming duty aboard Californian in the morning.
1912 15th April
Titanic Rockets Observed
Observes a series of white rockets in the direction of the nearby vessel and reports them to Captain Lord.
1912 14th May
British Inquiry Californian Evidence
Gives evidence about the rockets and conversations on Californian's bridge during Titanic's sinking.
1912 14th May
British Inquiry Californian Evidence
Gives evidence about Californian's position, the nearby vessel and the rockets observed during Titanic's sinking.
1912 14th May
British Inquiry Californian Evidence
Gives evidence about the rockets, Morse signalling and the nearby ship observed from Californian.
1912 15th May
British Inquiry Californian Evidence
Gives evidence about the ship seen from Californian before the rockets are observed.
1912 15th May
British Inquiry Wireless Evidence
Gives evidence about Californian's wireless communications and the ice warning sent to Titanic.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Titanic records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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