Why was SOS chosen to signify a distress signal? In Morse code SOS signified by three dots, three dashes, then three dots (· · · – – – · · ·). SOS was chosen because it could not be misinterpreted as being a message for anything else. Tree years later the Titanic used it to signal the sink of the ship.

Assuming the SOS has been sent over radio as “distress call” followed by a “distress message”, the proper response is to acknowledge the call and message, and to relay it using the communications methods at hand.

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But before “SOS” was the international distress symbol, “CQD” did the job. The signal “CQD” was derived from an earlier code, “CQ,” commonly used by telegraphers and wireless operators to address all stations at once.

The Titanic’s wireless operators told Californian’s operator to “shut up” and they ignored the warning. Later that night the Californian spotted the flares from the Titanic. His wireless office had shut down for the night and couldn’t receive the Titanic’s SOS messages.

Roughly ten minutes after Titanic first began transmitting CQD, the wireless distress signal, Cottam relayed Cape Cod’s message to Titanic. In reply, he received a distress call from Titanic’s wireless officer Jack Phillips: “Come at once.

Unauthorized use is prohibited. Titanic’s first calls for help used CQD—and Bride was relaxed enough to joke that perhaps Phillips should try SOS as well. “It’s the new call,” he said, “and it may be your last chance to send it.” But the ship’s plight was no laughing matter.

SS Califronian was a ship, which was in the area during one of the most famous marine accidents of all time in 1912. In fact, it was Californian that warned the Titanic about pack-ice in the region. Californian itself has stopped for the night because of the dangers and its radio operator was allowed to go to sleep.

The United States Senate inquiry and British Wreck Commissioner’s inquiry into the sinking both concluded that the Californian could have saved many or all of the lives that were lost, had a prompt response been mounted to the Titanic’s distress rockets.

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