Arguably the most famous ship in history, the RMS Titanic was known for its glamour and lavishness and was believed to be “unsinkable.” On April 10, 1912, Titanic departed the English city of Southampton on its maiden voyage heading to New York City.

The RMS Titanic remains the most famous shipwreck in history. The "unsinkable" British passenger liner famously struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City on April 14, 1912. It sank in less than three hours, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,500 passengers and crew. The wreck was discovered in 1985 by Robert Ballard, resting nearly 12,500 feet below the surface. In 2026, it continues to capture global fascination through numerous films, documentaries, and even deep-sea tourism expeditions. While other shipwrecks like the RMS Lusitania or the Antikythera wreck hold significant historical and archaeological value, the Titanic’s story of technological hubris, class disparity, and tragic loss has cemented it as a high-value cultural icon that defined the modern era’s maritime safety regulations, including the mandatory requirement for "lifeboats for all" on passenger vessels.