Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor, was born in 1874. His invention in 1900 would become one of the causes of the Titanic disaster.

Marconi developed the transmission of radio waves that could travel up to 6,000 miles. In 1901, radio signals could be transmitted across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1909, he would become a Nobel Prize winner in Physics for the invention of the “Marconi.”

At the time of Titanic’s maiden voyage in 1912, most passenger ships operating in the Atlantic had a Marconi radio, staffed by Marconi Company operators. Using the “Marconi,” ships could now communicate with each other using Morse code.

Marconi’s invention was believed to be one of the greatest lifesaving resources aboard a passenger ship. The ships would no longer be alone and isolated at sea. They now had a way to communicate with other ships around them.

Before the Titanic disaster, the value of the “Marconi” was “proven.” In 1909, the S.S. Republic collided with an Italian steamer. Using the Marconi, the Republic’s Marconi operator notified other rescue ships of the collision and guided them to their position. Over 1,700 passengers were saved alive because of this new Marconi radio technology.

The Titanic was equipped with the best Marconi radiotelegraph transmitter of its day!

However, the technology was new, and the “rules of the road” were fuzzy.

#1 – No “clear channel” for emergencies was standardized. Anyone and everyone could use whatever channels were open. Other ships used the same radio frequency as the Titanic.

#2 – The Titanic’s radio operators were swamped with the lucrative business of sending and receiving “marconi-grams.” from the passengers to their families and friends. Any warning messages from other ships traveled alongside the passenger’s radio traffic. The investigative disaster board believed other ships had sent several ice warnings, but they were either missed or ignored.

#3 – The established Morse code distress signal “SOS” ( ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ — with no breaks between the letters) was standarized in 1908. However, the previous code, “CQD” ( ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ / ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ / ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ), was still being used in 1912.

The Titanic’s radio operator, Jack Phillips, initially sent the code — “CQD.” Harold Bride, his subordinate, suggested that Phillips send out “SOS.” Then, Phillips began sending out the SOS and CQD distress codes.

Nevertheless, the most serious mistake was the cruise ship’s reliance on the benefits of the Marconi. The cruise ship industry believed the Marconi would shorten the time and distance for help to arrive. Therefore, area ships would be able to ferry the passengers to safety. Lifeboats could be used over and over. since they would only be needed to transfer people.

Therefore, a ship could be fitted with fewer lifeboats.

• The Titanic was built to carry 3,547 passengers.
• It was fitted for 20 lifeboats that could hold 1,178 passengers.
• To accommodate a full register of passengers, it should have had 92 lifeboats.

√ On Sunday evening, April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg.  

√ In 45 minutes, the ship was doomed, taking on 14,000 tons of water.

√ The Titanic sank in the early morning hours of Monday, April 15, 1912, in less than 3 hours.

√ 706 people survived in lifeboats, and over 1500 people died.

One reason . . . “The Marconi Radio” provided a false assurance that they would have more time to be rescued.

Isn’t that the thinking of many regarding eternity? — “We have time!”

However, no one knows what a day may bring. Today may end far different than we have ever imagined. Today, someone could be sharing their surprise at our death. There may be less time than we believe.

That is why the Bible says, “BEHOLD, NOW is the accepted time; BEHOLD, NOW is the day of salvation.”  

Don’t believe the lie of Hell that — “We have tomorrow.” Today, ask the Lord Jesus to be your Savior. Put your faith in Who He is and What He has done! Believe that He is the Messiah and that His death on Calvary has truly paid for the forgiveness of your sins.

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Note: “Marconi was offered free passage on the Titanic before she sank, but had taken the Lusitania three days earlier. As his daughter Degna later explained, he had paperwork to do and preferred the public stenographer aboard that vessel.”