Why were there so few lifeboats?

The Titanic was designed with only 20 lifeboats, which was actually more than maritime law required at the time for a ship of its size. The shipbuilders and owners believed that lifeboats were unnecessary for safety, as they were confident in the ship's unsinkability. Additionally, the aesthetics of the ship and the desire for deck space influenced the decision to limit the number of lifeboats. This tragic oversight became a significant factor in the high loss of life during the disaster.