Need for Searchlights. Searchlights On Ocean Liners. Illustration to show how lights fitted to a liner, by either oscillating or revolving, could create a pathway of light, not only directly ahead, but well to port and starboard. The collision and loss of the Titanic seems to have been due more than anything to the invisibility of an iceberg at night. Titanic was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast Ireland during 1910 - 1911 and later sank on April 15th, 1912 after striking an iceberg off the coast of New Foundland during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, USA with the loss of 1,522 passengers and crew.