A rescue plan dependent on radio coordination

The explanation treats lifeboats as a temporary transfer system, not a self-contained evacuation solution. On a busy North Atlantic route, boats were expected to carry people to a responding ship and return, making the familiar priority for women and children seem less final than it proved in practice. That model depended on functioning radios, round-the-clock operators, nearby vessels, shared understanding, and reliable emergency signals. The Californian example shows how ambiguous radio information and nonstandard rocket signals could leave another captain unsure whether immediate intervention was required. Titanic therefore shows how a technically attractive network can fail when its supporting standards are optional or inconsistent.