Starboard Lifeboat Inspection
Inspects starboard lifeboats and their equipment with Sixth Officer Moody before the maiden voyage.
Permanent Titanic subject page
Titanic Lifeboats
Preparation, loading, lowering, command, occupancy and survival records for Titanic's lifeboats and collapsibles.
161Matching records
1912Year span
Archive records
These records are rendered directly from the current World History Database Titanic archive. The unrelated 2003 Edmund Hillary row remains excluded from the Titanic collection.
Titanic Lifeboat Inspection
Inspects port-side lifeboats and their equipment before Titanic enters passenger service.
Titanic Lifeboat Gear Test
Supervises tests in which Titanic's lifeboats are swung out and selected boats are lowered.
Descent into Lifeboat Six
Climbs down a rope into lifeboat 6 after offering his sailing experience to help the short-handed boat.
Emergency Lifeboat One Survival
Escapes in emergency lifeboat 1 and helps crew the lightly loaded boat.
Sinking of RMS Titanic - Lifeboat Evacuation
After the iceberg collision, Smith ordered lifeboats uncovered and passengers mustered; Titanic sank at about 02:20 on 15 April 1912.
Titanic Lifeboat Provisioning
Helps supply lifeboats with bread while passengers and crew prepare to abandon ship.
Collapsible D Evacuation
Helps supervise collapsible D during the final lifeboat operations on Titanic's port side.
Lifeboat Eight Evacuation
Assists with lifeboat 8 on the port side during the evacuation.
Lifeboat Fourteen Assistance
Assists Fifth Officer Lowe with preparations around lifeboat 14.
Titanic Lifeboat Preparation
Helps organize lifeboat preparation and evacuation after the collision.
Titanic Lifeboat Fourteen
Takes command of lifeboat number 14 during Titanic's evacuation.
Titanic Lifeboats Consolidated
Transfers passengers between boats so he can organize a return toward the wreckage.
Warning Shots During Evacuation
Fires warning shots while controlling a crowd near lifeboat 14 during the evacuation.
Lifeboat Thirteen Escape
Escapes Titanic in lifeboat 13 after leaving the engineering spaces.
Lifeboat Six Escape
Survives Titanic in lifeboat 6 during the port-side evacuation.
Emergency Lifeboat One Lowering
Helps supervise emergency lifeboat 1 as it is lowered from the starboard side.
Lifeboat Five Lowering
Helps supervise the loading and lowering of lifeboat 5 on Titanic's starboard side.
Lifeboat Seven Lowering
Supervises the starboard evacuation and helps send lifeboat 7 away, the first boat lowered from that side.
Lifeboat Command
Commands a lifeboat and later signals the approaching Carpathia.
Titanic Lifeboat Two
Survives the disaster after taking charge of lifeboat number 2.
Emergency Lifeboat One Survival
Escapes in emergency lifeboat 1 with other crew members and first-class passengers.
Lifeboat Thirteen Survival
Escapes in lifeboat 13 and helps manage the heavily loaded boat after it reaches the water.
Lifeboat Six Survival
Escapes Titanic in lifeboat 6 after completing lookout duties on the night of the collision.
Lifeboat Seven Survival
Escapes Titanic in lifeboat 7 after earlier serving as a lookout.
Emergency Lifeboat One Command
Takes charge of emergency lifeboat 1 after it is lowered from Titanic.
Titanic Lifeboat Six
Survives Titanic's sinking aboard lifeboat number 6.
Lifeboat Thirteen Escape
Escapes Titanic in lifeboat 13 after men are permitted to fill remaining places on the starboard side.
Collapsible B Survival
Survives on overturned collapsible lifeboat B after Titanic disappears beneath the water.
Collapsible D Loading
Supervises loading of collapsible D during the final minutes of Titanic's evacuation.
Lifeboat Eight Loading
Oversees the port-side departure of lifeboat 8, one of the earlier boats lowered during the evacuation.
Lifeboat Four Loading
Supervises preparations for lifeboat 4 and directs women and children into the boat.
Lifeboat Six Loading
Directs women into lifeboat 6 and sends the under-manned boat away from Titanic's port side.
Lifeboat Sixteen Loading
Helps supervise lifeboat 16 during the port-side evacuation.
Titanic Lifeboat Loading
Supervises loading and lowering lifeboats on Titanic's port side.
Lifeboat Eleven Preparation
Assists with lifeboat 11 as passengers are moved toward the starboard boats.
Lifeboat Fifteen Preparation
Assists with lifeboat 15 during the evacuation from Titanic's starboard side.
Lifeboat Nine Preparation
Helps prepare and load lifeboat 9 during the evacuation.
Lifeboat Thirteen Preparation
Helps oversee lifeboat 13 during the crowded starboard evacuation.
Titanic Evacuation Assistance
Helps other officers prepare and launch lifeboats during the evacuation.
Lifeboat Fifteen Survival
Escapes in lifeboat 15 after assisting third-class passengers toward the boat deck.
Third Class Passenger Guidance
Guides a group of third-class women and children toward lifeboat 15 during the evacuation.
Titanic Lifeboat Five
Leaves Titanic in lifeboat number 5 while assisting the evacuation.
Titanic Collapsible C
Survives the sinking after leaving Titanic in collapsible lifeboat C.
Wireless Operator Survival
Survives aboard the overturned collapsible lifeboat.
Carpathia Reaches Titanic Lifeboats
Brings Carpathia to the disaster area and begins recovering people from Titanic's lifeboats.
Lifeboat Eight Steering
Escapes in lifeboat 8 and assists with steering and rowing after the boat leaves Titanic.
Emergency Lifeboat One Escape
Escapes Titanic with her husband in emergency lifeboat 1.
Emergency Lifeboat One Escape
Escapes with his wife in emergency lifeboat 1, which is lowered with only twelve occupants.
Lifeboat Seven Escape
Survives Titanic in lifeboat 7, the first standard lifeboat lowered from the starboard side.
Lifeboat Eleven Escape
Escapes in lifeboat 11 while carrying her musical toy pig.
Lifeboat Six Escape
Survives Titanic in lifeboat 6 after leaving the ship during the port-side evacuation.
Titanic Lifeboat Refusal
Declines to take a lifeboat place while other passengers still await evacuation.
Death of Jacques Futrelle
Dies in the Titanic disaster after his wife May reaches a lifeboat.
Death of John Jacob Astor
Dies in the Titanic disaster after helping his pregnant wife reach a lifeboat.
Titanic Madeleine Astor Evacuation
Helps his pregnant wife Madeleine reach a lifeboat before remaining aboard Titanic.
Titanic Lifeboat Four Rescue
Escapes the sinking aboard lifeboat number 4 while her husband remains aboard Titanic.
Titanic Lifeboat Six Passenger
Escapes Titanic aboard lifeboat number 6 and helps other survivors during the disaster.
Lifeboat Thirteen Escape
Survives in lifeboat 13 after boarding from A deck during the starboard evacuation.
Emergency Boat Two Loading
Takes charge of emergency lifeboat 2 as passengers are placed aboard during the evacuation.
Emergency Boat Two Departure
Leaves Titanic in emergency lifeboat 2 and directs the boat away from the sinking liner.
Green Pyrotechnics Loaded
Has a box of green pyrotechnic lights placed in lifeboat 2 before it leaves Titanic.
Green Flare Signalling
Displays bright green pyrotechnic lights from lifeboat 2 while waiting for a rescue ship.
Carpathia Rockets Sighted
Sees rockets from the approaching Carpathia while lifeboat 2 waits in the darkness.
Carpathia Guided by Green Lights
Uses the green lights from lifeboat 2 to help guide Carpathia toward the first survivors.
First Boat Alongside Carpathia
Brings lifeboat 2 alongside Carpathia at about 4:10 in the morning as the rescue begins.
Passengers Assisted from Boat Two
Helps the occupants of lifeboat 2 climb from the boat and board Carpathia safely.
Lifeboat Thirteen Boarding
Boards lifeboat 13 after men are permitted to fill remaining places in the boat.
Lifeboat Thirteen Lowered
Leaves Titanic in lifeboat 13 as it is lowered from the starboard side.
Discharge Water Danger
Experiences lifeboat 13 being pushed away from a powerful discharge of water from Titanic's side.
Lifeboat Fifteen Danger
Survives the danger of lifeboat 15 descending almost directly onto lifeboat 13.
Falls Cut from Lifeboat Thirteen
Witnesses the falls being cut so lifeboat 13 can move clear beneath the descending boat 15.
Titanic Sinking Witnessed
Watches Titanic's lights disappear and witnesses the liner sink from lifeboat 13.
Nearby Lifeboat Contact
Maintains intermittent contact with several nearby lifeboats in the darkness after Titanic sinks.
Search for Lifeboat Light
Searches lifeboat 13 for a useful lamp and finds that effective signalling light is unavailable.
Iceberg Near Carpathia
Observes an iceberg near Carpathia as lifeboat 13 approaches the rescue ship at daybreak.
Carpathia Boarding
Boards Carpathia from lifeboat 13 at about 4:45 in the morning.
Carpathia Rescue Observed
Observes Carpathia collecting other Titanic lifeboats and survivors during the morning rescue.
Lifeboat Readiness Message
Relays Rostron's message telling Titanic that Carpathia is coming and that rescue preparations are being made.
Carpathia Lifeboats Readied
Orders Carpathia's lifeboats prepared and made ready for immediate use if needed.
Green Flare Sighted
Sees a green flare from Boxhall's lifeboat while Carpathia closes on the disaster area.
First Lifeboat Recovery
Directs the first recovery as Titanic's lifeboat 2 reaches Carpathia shortly after four in the morning.
Rescue Through Daybreak
Continues maneuvering Carpathia among ice and lifeboats as daylight spreads across the disaster area.
Evacuation Preparation
Prepares to leave Titanic as officers begin loading women and children into the remaining lifeboats.
Lifeboat Four Boarding
Boards lifeboat 4 during the final phase of Titanic's evacuation.
Separation from Husband
Separates from John Jacob Astor when she enters lifeboat 4 and he remains aboard Titanic.
Lifeboat Four Lowering
Leaves Titanic in lifeboat 4 as the boat is lowered from the ship.
Night in Lifeboat Four
Waits in lifeboat 4 during the cold hours between Titanic's evacuation and Carpathia's arrival.
Carpathia Rescue
Is rescued from lifeboat 4 and taken aboard Carpathia after Titanic has sunk.
Evacuation Assistance
Helps other passengers during the evacuation before entering a lifeboat herself.
Lifeboat Six Boarding
Boards lifeboat 6 during Titanic's evacuation from the port side.
Lifeboat Six Lowering
Leaves Titanic in lifeboat 6 under the command of Quartermaster Robert Hichens.
Lifeboat Six Rowing
Helps row lifeboat 6 as its occupants move away from the sinking Titanic.
Lifeboat Morale
Encourages the occupants of lifeboat 6 during the cold wait for rescue.
Return Debate in Lifeboat Six
Argues that lifeboat 6 should return toward the wreck area to search for people in the water.
Carpathia Approach
Rows with the occupants of lifeboat 6 as the boat approaches Carpathia.
Carpathia Boarding
Boards Carpathia after being rescued with the occupants of lifeboat 6.
Gangway Blankets Readied
Has blankets positioned at Carpathia's gangways for cold survivors arriving from the lifeboats.
Boat Two Located
Closes on the green lights displayed from Boxhall's boat and makes it the first Titanic boat recovered.
Lifeboat Recovery Sequence
Keeps Carpathia maneuvering among the scattered lifeboats as survivors are taken aboard through the morning.
Titanic Boats Hoisted Aboard
Has thirteen of Titanic's wooden lifeboats hoisted aboard Carpathia during the rescue operation.
Rescue Area Departure Decision
Leaves the disaster area after the lifeboats and survivors have been accounted for as fully as possible.
Titanic Lifeboat Warning Relayed
Relays Rostron's instruction that Titanic should have her lifeboats ready while Carpathia approaches.
Lifeboat Seven Loading Assistance
Assists near lifeboat 7 by helping keep a passage clear for women during the evacuation.
Lifeboat Five Loading Assistance
Helps Third Officer Pitman bring women forward while lifeboat 5 is being loaded.
Titanic Evacuation Ordered
Directs officers to uncover and load the lifeboats after the seriousness of Titanic's damage becomes clear.
Port Lifeboat Evacuation
Supervises the loading and lowering of lifeboats from Titanic's port side during the evacuation.
Starboard Lifeboat Evacuation
Directs the loading and lowering of lifeboats from Titanic's starboard side during the evacuation.
Titanic Boat Deck Assistance
Assists the senior officers with lifeboat preparation and evacuation work on Titanic's boat deck.
Lifeboat Five Command
Takes command of lifeboat 5 after First Officer Murdoch orders him to leave Titanic with the boat.
Lifeboat Fourteen Command
Takes command of lifeboat 14 after supervising its loading and lowering from Titanic's port side.
Return to Wreckage Rescue
Returns toward the wreckage in lifeboat 14 and rescues several people who remain alive in the water.
Sixth Officer Lost with Titanic
Dies in the disaster after assisting with lifeboat operations during Titanic's evacuation.
Women Entering Boats Wireless Report
Has wireless traffic report that women are being placed into Titanic's lifeboats during the evacuation.
Women and Children Priority
Directs that women and children receive priority as Titanic's lifeboats are loaded and lowered.
Carpathia Arrival in New York
Disembarks from Carpathia in New York after surviving Titanic in lifeboat 13.
Carpathia Arrival in New York
Arrives in New York aboard Carpathia after surviving Titanic in lifeboat 4.
Senate Officer Evidence
Gives evidence about Titanic's officers, navigation, lifeboats and evacuation on the inquiry's opening day.
United States Senate Testimony
Gives evidence to the United States Senate inquiry about Titanic's officers, lifeboats and the evacuation.
Senate Lifeboat Testimony
Gives Senate evidence about Titanic's lifeboats, evacuation procedures and his experience after leaving the ship.
Senate Passenger Testimony
Gives passenger evidence about Titanic's evacuation and his experience leaving the ship in a lifeboat.
Senate Fifth Officer Testimony
Gives evidence about lifeboat loading, his return toward the wreckage and the rescue of people from the water.
Senate Quartermaster Testimony
Gives evidence about steering Titanic, lifeboat 6 and events before and after the collision.
British Inquiry Fireman Evidence
Gives evidence about his engineering duties and lifeboat 13 during the British investigation.
British Inquiry Quartermaster Evidence
Gives evidence about the helm orders at the collision and his command of lifeboat 6.
British Inquiry Fireman Evidence
Gives evidence about engineering conditions and the conduct of emergency lifeboat 1.
British Inquiry Steward Evidence
Gives evidence about guiding third-class passengers and the loading of lifeboat 15.
British Inquiry Seaman Evidence
Gives evidence about emergency lifeboat 1 and events seen from the boat after Titanic sank.
British Inquiry Fireman Evidence
Gives evidence about the evacuation and his escape in emergency lifeboat 1.
Lightoller Titanic Inquiry Evidence
Begins evidence to the British inquiry about navigation, ice warnings, the collision and lifeboat loading.
British Inquiry Passenger Evidence
Gives evidence to the British inquiry about her experience aboard emergency lifeboat 1.
Lowe Titanic Inquiry Evidence
Gives evidence to the British inquiry about lifeboats, ice information and his actions during the evacuation.
Boxhall Titanic Inquiry Evidence
Gives evidence to the British inquiry about bridge activity, distress signals and lifeboat operations.
British Inquiry Evidence
Describes his officer duties, command of lifeboat 5 and the debate over returning toward people in the water.
Lifeboat Reform Recommendation
Supports the report's recommendation that passenger ships carry lifeboat capacity sufficient for everyone aboard.
Passenger Drill Recommendation
Supports recommendations for improved lifeboat assignments, crew training and passenger emergency drills before departure.
United States Lifeboat Capacity Recommendation
Supports Senate recommendations requiring lifeboat capacity adequate for the people carried on ocean-going passenger ships.
United States Lifeboat Crew Training Recommendation
Supports proper assignment and training of crew members so lifeboats can be loaded, lowered and handled efficiently in emergencies.
United States Passenger Drill Recommendation
Supports passenger lifeboat assignments and emergency drills before departure so people know where to go during an abandonment.
British Inquiry Chief Baker Evidence
Gives evidence about provisioning lifeboats, Titanic's final plunge and his survival.
British Inquiry Lifeboat Evidence
Gives evidence about lookout duties and his command of emergency lifeboat 1.
British Inquiry Lifeboat Two Evidence
Describes the loading of emergency boat 2, its occupants and the decisions made after Titanic disappeared.
British Wreck Inquiry Evidence
Answers questions concerning speed, lifeboats and company policy.
British Inquiry Passenger Evidence
Gives evidence to the British inquiry about emergency lifeboat 1 and payments later made to its crew.
British Inquiry Seaman Evidence
Gives evidence about Titanic's lifeboats and his experience during the sinking.
British Inquiry Seaman Evidence
Gives evidence about deck work, lifeboat operations and the final evacuation.
British Inquiry Steward Evidence
Gives evidence about passenger assistance, lifeboat loading and events after the collision.
Titanic Lifeboat Regulations Evidence
Gives evidence comparing Titanic's lifeboat provision with the requirements then imposed by the Board of Trade.
Lifeboat Capacity Policy Evidence
Discusses White Star views on lifeboat accommodation and the practical problems of carrying additional boats.
Able Seamen Manning Evidence
Discusses the number of able seamen required to man and launch lifeboats during an emergency.
British Inquiry Design Evidence
Gives evidence to the British inquiry about Titanic's design, lifeboat arrangements and shipbuilding practice.
British Inquiry Rescue Testimony
Gives British inquiry evidence about Carpathia's voyage, lifeboats and rescue of Titanic survivors.
Titanic Regulation Evidence
Gives extensive evidence about Board of Trade marine administration, lifeboat rules and bulkhead regulation.
Lifeboat Capacity Based on Persons
Recommends calculating lifeboat and raft capacity from the number of people carried rather than from a ship's tonnage.
Lifeboats Independent of Subdivision
Recommends treating lifeboat accommodation independently from the protection provided by watertight subdivision.
Lifeboat Places for Everyone
Recommends sufficient lifeboat accommodation for everyone aboard passenger ships wherever such provision is practicable.
Continuous Lifeboat Fender Requirement
Recommends fitting lifeboats with continuous protective fenders to reduce damage while boats are lowered in a seaway.
Lifeboat Emergency Equipment Readiness
Recommends that lifeboat equipment be aboard before departure and that boats carry lights, compasses, provisions and capacity markings.
Stronger Lifesaving Appliance Inspection
Recommends more searching official inspection of lifeboats and other life-saving appliances before passenger ships sail.
Trained Lifeboat Crew Requirement
Recommends training additional crew members in boat work whenever deck crews alone cannot adequately man all lifeboats.
Pre Departure Boat Working Scheme
Recommends requiring every passenger ship to have an officer-communicated plan for efficiently working the lifeboats before departure.
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