The Arctic disaster that changed maritime safety rules A small fishing boat caused an accident that killed women and children.

 

A painting depicting the sinking of the Arctic ship

The Arctic disaster that changed maritime safety rules A small fishing boat caused an accident that killed women and children.

In the mid-19th century, sailing from Europe to America took between 10 and 14 days. At that time, crossing the Atlantic was fraught with danger due to the turbulent weather conditions.

This period witnessed numerous maritime disasters that resulted in large numbers of casualties. Among these disasters, history remembers the sinking of the SS Arctic, a paddle-wheeled ship that sank to the bottom of the ocean in 1854, killing hundreds.

Arctic ship characteristics

The Arctic was designed to operate for the American Collins Line, which was founded with US government support to challenge the dominance of the British Cunard Line on voyages between Britain and the United States, particularly on the route between Liverpool and New York.

Collins Line owned a small number of ships capable of making transatlantic voyages. The Arctic was the most significant of these vessels capable of undertaking such a voyage.

The Arctic was built in 1850 and set sail on her maiden voyage on October 26, 1850.

According to known drawings, the Arctic, made primarily of wood, measured 87 meters in length and weighed approximately 2,856 tons. It was powered by two engines, each with a power of 1,000 horsepower, enabling it to sail at a speed of approximately 24 kilometers per hour.

Crew survives, passengers die

Despite her success on several voyages, the ship's life was short-lived. On September 27, 1854, near the coast of Newfoundland, the Arctic collided with the French fishing vessel Vesta, which was much smaller than the Arctic. Reports indicate that heavy fog and poor visibility were the primary causes of the collision.

Following the collision, water began to leak into the Arctic, which was carrying approximately 400 people, including 150 crew members. The situation was made worse by the fact that the ship was not equipped with sufficient lifeboats, with even half the passengers having enough lifeboats. As panic mounted on board, everyone ignored the "women and children first" rule.

Just four hours after the accident, the Arctic sank and plunged into the depths of the ocean, killing more than 300 of its passengers. Only 85 people survived the disaster, including 24 male passengers and 61 crew members. All the women and children aboard the Arctic drowned.

The incident sparked outrage in the United States, which was outraged by the actions of the ship's crew and the deaths of all the women and children. The disaster also highlighted the lack of even the most basic life-saving and rescue procedures on transatlantic ships, which later prompted radical improvements in maritime safety standards.