CQD, SOS and the Sinking of the Titanic
Two different distress calls, an arrogant radio operator and intense competition between cruise lines were among the issues that contributed to the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and the associated loss of life. Could the tragedy have been prevented? KA8TVY looks at the role of wireless in events leading up to the sinking and the efforts to save lives after the ship struck an iceberg.
Ham radio, our hobby, emphasizes the art of communication. Our art is unselfish and compassionate to others, and we mobilize quickly to help others in cases of emergencies such as tornados, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes. Our roots of service go back 110 years ago when the radio operators on the RMS Titanic helped to save 705 lives.
A recent article by Erin Blakemore in has corrected some misconceptions I had on that tragic event I would like to share it with my fellow hams. I am also motivated by a recent court ruling by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith in favor of RMS Titanic, Inc. (May 18, 2020) that paved the way to the future recovery of the Marconi telegraph from the wreck of the Titanic. The recovery was postponed until this year, due to financial, legal, and Covid pandemic factors. Yet numerous organizations — including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — are strongly opposed to the salvage plan. NOAA argues that the planned expedition violates an agreement between United States and the United Kingdom that ban commercial exploitation of the ship’s
