The Explosion of the SS Sultana

This online engineering PDH interactive presentation provides a brief outline on the design and conception of the SS Sultana and its unfortunate explosion.

The Sultana was a privately owned sidewheel steamboat built in Cincinnati, Ohio, in February 1863. A relatively large boat, the Sultana stood three decks tall and measured 260 feet long and approximately 70 feet wide – a little shorter than a football field and about half as wide. In mid-April 1865, Captain Mason set off downriver with the overcrowded Sultana after making the fastest trip upriver for any steamboat at that time.

This presentation introduces the explosion that occurred when the Sultana was about seven miles north of Memphis and when three of the four boilers suddenly exploded and ripped upward through its heart. The presentation further discusses the primary reasons that catered for the fatal effects of the Sultana’s boilers explosion, including the careening effect, low water levels, and the faulty repair made earlier. Finally, this presentation describes the lessons learnt following the disaster and the ongoing legacy of the SS Sultana.

This 1 PDH online interactive presentation is applicable to ship engineers, directors, and builders who are interested in gaining a better overview of the SS Sultana.