There Were No Binoculars in the Crow’s Nest
Due to a mix-up at the Southampton port, there were no binoculars in the crow’s nest. This didn’t matter much, however, given how dark of a night it was. Though it was clear, there was no moon, and the water was incredibly smooth and calm, making it impossible to distinguish whether waves were washing up against obstacles ahead. However, crewman Frederick Fleet who spotted the iceberg later testified at the investigation hearings that had he been issued binoculars, “We could have seen it (the iceberg) a bit sooner. Well, enough to get out of the way.”
