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| The team found that the officer’s quarters had rapidly deteriorated in the 107 years since the ship sank |
It’s one of the most famous ships in history, but a new dive to the RMS Titanic has revealed the shocking state of the wreck.
Divers have visited the wreck at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean for the first time in 14 years, capturing the first ever 4K footage of the ship.
The dive was led by explorer Victor Vescovo, Titanic expert Parks Stephenson, expedition leader Rob McCallum, and a technical team from Triton Submarines, who visited the wreck on board a two-person submersible vehicle.
Mr Vescovo said: “It’s a big wreck, I wasn’t quite prepared for how large it was.
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| The Titanic wreck is deteriorating rapidly |
“It was extraordinary to see it all, and the most amazing moment came when I was going along the side of the Titanic and the bright lights of the submersible reflected off a portal and came right back, it was like the ship was winking at me. It was amazing.”
RMS Titanic currently lies almost 4,000 metres below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean, around 370 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada.
At this depth, the wreck has become subject to sea currents, sweeping eddies, and bitterly cold conditions of around 1°C.
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| Titanic sank 107 years ago |
Sadly, time has not been kind to the wreck, mostly due to salt corrosion, metal-eating bacteria and deep currents.
In particular, the team found that the officer’s quarters had rapidly deteriorated in the 107 years since the ship sank.
Mr Stephenson said: “The most shocking area of deterioration was the starboard side of the officer’s quarters, where the captain’s quarters were.
“Captain’s bathtub is a favourite image among the Titanic enthusiasts, and that’s now gone.
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| Captain’s bathtub is a favourite image among the Titanic enthusiasts, and that’s now gone |
“That whole deck hole on that side is collapsing taking with it the staterooms, and the deterioration is going to continue advancing.”
Using cameras on board the submersible, the researchers were able to create highly accurate 3D models of the ship.
These images will make it easier to assess the wreck’s condition, both now and in the future, according to the team.
The full results from the expedition will be documented in a new film made by BAFTA and Atlantic Productions.
