Nevertheless, the iceberg sufficiently damaged the Titanic to make it sink in less than three hours. Subsequent investigations found that the ship had been steaming too fast in dangerous waters, that lifeboats , space had been provided for only about half of the passengers and crew, and that the Californian, close to the scene, had not come to the rescue because its radio operator was off duty and asleep. These findings led to many reforms, such as lifeboat space for every person on a ship, lifeboat drills, the maintenance of a full-time radio watch while at sea, and an international ice patrol. Strong boat, designed for rescuing shipwrecked persons or persons abandoning ship, carried on oceangoing vessels and maintained at onshore stations. Lifeboats are propelled by oars or motor.
Rescue lifeboats are now almost universally diesel powered.