<P> Even before the survivors arrived in New York, investigations were being planned to discover what had happened, and what could be done to prevent a recurrence . Inquiries were held in both the United States and United Kingdom, the former more robustly critical of traditions and practices, and scathing of the failures involved, and the latter broadly more technical and expert - oriented . </P> <P> The U.S. Senate's inquiry into the disaster was initiated on 19 April, a day after Carpathia arrived in New York . The chairman, Senator William Alden Smith, wanted to gather accounts from passengers and crew while the events were still fresh in their minds . Smith also needed to subpoena all surviving British passengers and crew while they were still on American soil, which prevented them from returning to the UK before the American inquiry was completed on 25 May . The British press condemned Smith as an opportunist, insensitively forcing an inquiry as a means of gaining political prestige and seizing "his moment to stand on the world stage". Smith, however, already had a reputation as a campaigner for safety on U.S. railroads, and wanted to investigate any possible malpractices by railroad tycoon J.P. Morgan, Titanic's ultimate owner . </P> <P> The British Board of Trade's inquiry into the disaster was headed by Lord Mersey, and took place between 2 May and 3 July . Being run by the Board of Trade, who had previously approved the ship, it was seen by some as having little interest in its own or White Star's conduct being found negligent . </P> <P> Each inquiry took testimony from both passengers and crew of Titanic, crew members of Leyland Line's Californian, Captain Arthur Rostron of Carpathia and other experts . The British inquiry also took far greater expert testimony, making it the longest and most detailed court of inquiry in British history up to that time . The two inquiries reached broadly similar conclusions: the regulations on the number of lifeboats that ships had to carry were out of date and inadequate, Captain Smith had failed to take proper heed of ice warnings, the lifeboats had not been properly filled or crewed, and the collision was the direct result of steaming into a dangerous area at too high a speed . </P>

How long would it take for the titanic to cross the atlantic