ElDaheeh: The Story of the Titanic

Key Characters in the Skit

• Maestro: Urges Sayed to play music as the ship sinks.
• Sayed: Reluctant musician, prioritizes practical actions over music.
• Amr Diab: Mentioned humorously as someone who might entertain passengers in such dire situations.

Key Points in the Titanic Story

• Titanic Distress Signals:

  • April 15th, 1912, 12:27 A.M.: Captain commanded assistant Jack Phillips to send distress messages. SOS code was used after 6 attempts.
  • SS Californian's radio operator was asleep; did not respond.
  • This changed navigation laws forever.

• Archimedes' Principle:

  • Background story involving King Hiero II’s crown to explain the principle.
  • Principle: Volume of a body submerged in water equals the volume of water displaced.
  • This principle is fundamental to shipbuilding.

Titanic's Construction and Features

• Dates:

  • March 31st, 1912: Completion announced.
  • April 10th, 1912: First voyage started.

• Size and Capabilities:

  • Largest passenger ship at the time: 269m long, 28m wide, 53m high.
  • 16 separated cabins to limit flooding.
  • Marketed as unsinkable.
  • Limited to float only with 4 damaged cabins, not 5.

• Fire Incident:

  • 10 days before first voyage, fire in coal warehouse due to spontaneous combustion.
  • Opinions differ on impact of fire on sinking.

Events Leading to Sinking

• Warnings Ignored:

  • SS Californian warned of icebergs; Titanic's radio operator dismissed it.
  • Captain of SS Californian slept, missing further distress signals.
  • Titanic kept at 22 knots/hour speed.

• Collision with Iceberg:

  • April 15th, 1912, 11:40 PM: Titanic hit an iceberg.
  • Damaged 5 compartments, which exceeded the ship's safety limit.
  • Theoretical alternative: Direct collision might have had less disastrous outcomes.

Safety and Rescue Measures

• Lifeboats:

  • Only 20 lifeboats instead of 60, due to outdated law based on ship’s weight.
  • Law changed post-Titanic to accommodate 125% of passenger count.

• Radio Operations:

  • Post-Titanic law: Radios must operate 24/7.

• International Ice Patrol: Established to monitor icebergs.

• Design Changes: Double bottoms and higher compartment walls to prevent similar disasters.

Social Classes on Titanic

• First Class: Luxurious amenities (pool, gym, etc.), easy access to lifeboats.
• Second Class: Good amenities, more freedom than third-class.
• Third Class: Often locked, less chance of survival.

Post-Sinking Changes and Theories

• Maritime laws: Enforced better lifeboat and safety measures.
• Conspiracy Theories: Various myths including J.P. Morgan plotting or curses.
• Human Error: Multiple small errors resulted in the disaster.

Conclusion

• Striving for Perfection: The pursuit of engineering perfection can lead to neglecting backup plans and preparations for possible disasters.
• Acknowledging Imperfections: Recognizing human inaccuracy can drive better preparedness and prevent catastrophes.