Engineering the Titanic

Titanic image courtesy of the National Museums Northern Ireland Collection

It was said at the time that out of all the crafts, shipbuilding is the one which demands the most science. Under Edward Harland’s leadership, Harland & Wolff applied the revolutionary idea that iron ships need not imitate the designs of wooden ships, and the company continued to apply this and other new design ideas to their vessels. The firm was a pioneer in the introduction of marine propulsion and perfected the reciprocating engine. The baton of Sir Edward Harland’s genius for applied science was passed to William James (later Lord) Pirrie, born in Quebec, Canada of Ulster stock.

William Pirrie

Pirrie joined Harland & Wolff as an apprentice at the age of fifteen and rose to become head draughtsman by 1869. Five years later he became a partner and soon was head of the entire concern. There were other designers and engineers of talent alongside Pirrie. Alexander Carlisle, Pirrie’s cousin and brother-in-law, joined the firm in 1870 and rose to become managing director and co-designer of Titanic.

Thomas Andrews

Thomas Andrews, who went down with Titanic was also a relative of Pirrie’s: his mother was Pirrie’s sister. Andrews was born in Comber, Co. Down and having joined Harland & Wolff, worked his way through all of its major departments and offices until he became Chief Designer during the time Titanic and her sisters were created, and was much admired by all the shipyard workers.

Passengers

Pride in engineering as well as safety precautions required engineers from Titanic’s makers to accompany the ship on her maiden voyage. It was Andrews’ job to remedy any mechanical flaws and passenger discomforts, to iron out any snags. All eight Harland & Wolff engineers perished with the ship and if they went un-noticed in the wake of the disaster, it may have been in part because they were neither passengers nor crew (even if their names appeared in the passenger list). But at the time, some distinguished writers such as Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling and H.G. Wells, champions of efficiency and practicality, extolled their bravery as well as expertise. A memorial to the engineers of Titanic stands in Southampton’s East Park.

User Comments 4

I am a stationary engineer for IUoE and know that there are more mechanical aspects to the engineering process. My great grandfather was aboard Titanic as part of The Black Gang (fireman/stoker), I know there was a lot more to Titanic besides reciprocating engines and boilers.

- Donald S. Murphy
Titanic Historian: Engineering Department

Donald 02 December 2011

Thanks Ron, you provided a great deal of insight and knowledge. Thank You ****Kimberly

Kimberly 20 June 2011

Well, not quite. One look at steamer rudders of the time shows they are identical to ones on sailing ships. Titanic and her two sisters had huge ones. But they were still the same 'unbalanced' type, unchanged since a rudder on the centreline replaced a steering oar on one side.

'Unbalanced' means exactly that. The rudder's entire weight swings on a forward set of hinges, called 'gudgeons'(the eyebolt screwed into the frame) and 'pintles'(the vertical pins at the front of the rudder which drop into the gudgeons).

The problem is twofold. First the enormous weight of such giant doors swinging on these few points, leading to wear and eventually shearing off. Second, such a rudder only uses the prop wash on one side of the vessel.

Today all ships use some form of balanced or semi-balanced rudder which hangs from its rudder post at the 1/3 mark. Thus when it is turned it uses both sides of the propeller stream, making for greater efficiency, and faster helm responses.

Not only did H & W's design engineers go down with the ship. So did all 35 White Star crew engineers, keeping the generators going so the evacuation could be lit. By the time the generator engines had run out of steam from submerging boilers, and main circuit switches were falling open there was no escape, even from the aftermost engine room.

Ron 29 May 2011

This great who ever did this keep it up!

Lashay 06 May 2011