A research expedition launched Friday from Providence, Rhode Island. The company with salvage rights to the RMS Titanic is undertaking its first trip to the ship’s wreckage since 2010. Explorers have both heavy hearts and lofty goals for this ninth trip to Titanic.
Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912. The luxury ocean liner struck an iceberg and sank two hours and 40 minutes later. About 1,500 people died in the disaster.
RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST, Inc.) in Georgia holds the legal rights to salvage the wreck at the bottom of the ocean.
The voyage comes as undersea explorers worldwide remember last year’s deadly accident. Titan, an experimental submersible, imploded en route to Titanic. The June 23, 2023, disaster killed all five people on board. The Coast Guard is still investigating the tragedy.
This year’s trek will use modern imaging technology and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Scientists hope to capture detailed images of the wreckage site and the debris field.
“This monumental undertaking will allow us to document the Titanic in unprecedented detail and share new discoveries from the wreck site with the public,” says RMST, Inc. president Jessica Sanders.
The vessel headed to the site is named Dino Chouest. It will take several days to reach the shipwreck site. The ship will return around August 13, says RMST, Inc. spokesperson Jon Hammond.
The company hopes to create a detailed study of the current condition of the Titanic wreckage site. Another goal is a detailed survey of artifacts for possible future recovery.
The vessel making the trip is equipped with two ROVs. They will capture the first end-to-end mapping image of the wreck field and debris site.
The trip will also include “the highest resolution camera systems ever deployed at the site in an effort to bring new insights about the ship,” says Evan Kovacs, an underwater filmmaker working on the mission.
The journey to the Titanic site will allow researchers to compare what they see to the 2010 imaging. The company website states that this mission may result in discovering new areas of the debris field, unknown marine life, and new areas of decay that could provide unobstructed access to the interior of the ship.
Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, His wondrous works in the deep. — Psalm 107:23-24
