British Wreck Commissioner's inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic British Wreck Commissioner's inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic The sinking of the RMS "Titanic" on 15 April 1912 resulted in an inquiry by the British Wreck Commissioner on behalf of the British Board of Trade. The inquiry was overseen by High Court judge Lord Mersey, and was held in London from 2 May to 3 July 1912. The hearings took place mainly at the London Scottish Drill Hall, at 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1. There were a total of 42 days of official investigation. Lord Mersey and the various counsels, assessors and experts in marine law and
RMS Titanic the starboard side of "Titanic" struck the iceberg, creating a series of holes below the waterline. The hull was not punctured by the iceberg, but rather dented such that the hull's seams buckled and separated, allowing water to seep in. Five of the ship's watertight compartments were breached. It soon became clear that the ship was doomed, as she could not survive more than four compartments being flooded. "Titanic" began sinking bow-first, with water spilling from compartment to compartment as her angle in the water became steeper. Those aboard "Titanic" were ill-prepared for such an emergency. In accordance with accepted