“Hey Henry, is that an iceberg?”

Ship Happened: US Senate Subcommittee on the Titanic Disaster, 1912, will set sail on an investigative journey into the events surrounding the infamous sinking of the Titanic. As a specialized committee, delegates will take on the roles of real US senators in the early 1900s, diving deep into the factors leading to the catastrophe and drafting legislation to prevent such a tragedy from ever occurring again.

With the benefit of historical hindsight and good judgment, delegates will question the safety standards, navigation choices, and emergency preparedness (or lack thereof) that led to this historical maritime mishap. From scrutinizing lifeboat shortages to dissecting communication failures, delegates will aim to establish clear maritime protocols to prevent future tragedies and navigate the stormy waters of public opinion and policy.

Throughout this session, expect a blend of sharp questions, surprising discoveries, and, naturally, a fair share of “unsinkable” optimism. Delegates will ask themselves: Who really was steering the ship? Were they iceberg-aware or merely skating on thin ice? Could Jack truly fit on that door? While the stakes are as serious as the North Atlantic in April of 1912, a few waves of humor may buoy our spirits as we untangle the threads of this historic disaster and work toward policies that will keep all future ships afloat. Delegates will work frantically to right some wrongs, fix maritime regulations, and deal with potential backlash to ensure that the hearts of the public will go on.