Red Star Line: Difference between revisions

 

The preparations for evacuation were extremely dangerous with high waves crashing into the sides of the ship, throwing crewmembers on boat deck around like ragdolls. The ship's flooding increased at 11:03 PM when floodwaters went over the compartment walls and began flooding the cargo bay. The waves at one point were so violent that the front of the ship was thrown down into the sea before bouncing back up with passengers being thrown around and some sustaining minor injuries. Over the next two hours, the Pioneer would slowly dip deeper and deeper into the rough, black seas. Flooding entered the lower cabin decks of the ship around 11:26 PM and at 11:37 PM, the SOS signals were finally received by the Tuvarian naval vessel, the TNN Relentless. The SS Onward was in a bad spot meanwhile as it drifted away from the Pioneer and the Bow of the ship went completely under, sending the stern up into the air. The final plunge was quick and by 11:50, SS Onward went under. The situation on Pioneer only got worse and worse and the bow went under at 12:06 AM. Only 4 of the 12 lifeboats onboard were released at less than half capacity due to concerns of the lifeboats becoming lost in the seas. Lifeboat crews used ropes to tie all of the released boats together to make a large raft almost. Like with the Onward, once the bow went under the sinking sped up immensely as passengers and officers scrambled to get off the ship or get to the stern and by 12:10 AM, SS Pioneer was lost...