Titanic’s mirage, part 4: How might currents have affected visibility and the rescue operation?

Abstract

Ocean currents played an important role in the Titanic disaster, bringing sea ice and icebergs to the area in which the collision occurred. The currents also could have affected the Californian's drift, making her move in a circular motion that was confusing for all who witnessed the tragedy, and they could have made it more difficult to establish communications between the vessels. However, the currents might have helped the rescue ship Carpathia to navigate directly to the Titanic's lifeboats, in spite of the fact that the Carpathia was given an incorrect SOS position. This article provides historical and up to date information on the subject of the currents in the area of the disaster and explains what role the currents might have played in some of the remaining Titanic‐related mysteries.