NEW REVELATIONS PREVIOUSLY concealed by the family of the most senior surviving officer of the Titanic disaster suggest the boat sank after a steering mistake.

Second Officer Charles Lightoller allegedly covered up the information in inquiries which followed the tragedy, according to the Telegraph.

The mistakes were concealed by his family for fear of ruining his reputation, but have now been published by his granddaughter, Louise Patten.

Previously, it had been thought that the ship was travelling too quickly to avoid hitting the iceberg. In her new book, Patten claims that although the iceberg was spotted in good time, the helmsman accidentally turned the ship the wrong way.

The Telegraph writes that Lightoller claimed that a change in steering system conventions resulted in the command to turn the ship being misunderstood by the helmsman, who subsequently turned the ship the wrong direction.

Action to rectify the error came too late, and caused water to gush into the damaged vessel.

Patten says the only person Lightoller told the truth to was his wife, Patten’s grandmother, because he felt his duty to his employer meant he should hide the error. She said she realised one day that she was the only person left alive who knew the truth, and decided to reveal it.