It has been just over a year since the Titan submersible tragically imploded during its expedition to visit the Titanic shipwreck. Now, the American company holding the rights to explore the historic wreck is set to embark on its first expedition to the site since 2010.
A new chapter in Titanic exploration
This month, the company will lead an expert team on a mission to the wreck and debris field of the RMS Titanic. According to the company’s website, this expedition will feature leading deep-ocean imaging experts, oceanographers, scientists, and historians. Their goal is to capture the highest-resolution images of the wreck and debris area, study previously unseen marine life, and collect artefacts from the site.
The Titanic: A tragic legacy
The RMS Titanic, described as the “ship of dreams” and famously deemed “unsinkable,” sank on its maiden voyage in 1912 after striking an iceberg. The disaster claimed the lives of an estimated 1,635 people. The wreck now lies approximately 3,800 meters down in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Titan Submersible Incident
On June 18, 2023, the Titan submersible, operated by OceanGate, was on a voyage to see the Titanic wreck when it imploded. The submersible went missing in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Newfoundland.
On board were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Pakistani-British businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and British businessman Hamish Harding. The submersible lost contact with ground control, and after a massive international search operation, all on board were presumed dead. It is believed that the submersible was destroyed by a pressure failure inside the pod’s hull.
Mission objectives and crew
RMS Titanic Inc.’s upcoming mission aims to capture high-resolution photos of the wreck “to preserve the Titanic legacy for future generations and scientific study.”
Remotely operated vehicles will survey the site and debris area. The company states that the mission “is to utilize the latest technology to continue the important work of surveying the Titanic wreck site, enhancing our understanding of its historical significance, identifying at-risk artefacts for safe recovery in future expeditions, protecting and conserving the area for future generations, furthering the current scientific study, engaging a worldwide community in discovering and identifying new artefacts and marine life never before seen, and inspiring the next generation of explorers.”
The expedition crew will include notable figures such as Troy Launay, President of TR LaunaY Inc.; David Gallo, Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives for RMS Titanic Inc.; Titanic historian Rory Golden; Director of Underwater Photography Evan Kovacs; Director of Collections Tomasina Ray; and Titanic researcher James Penca.
Cultural impact and continued fascination
The scale of the Titanic tragedy, contrasted with the bold claims of its builders regarding its strength and invincibility, has captured the public’s imagination for over a century. This fascination was further cemented by James Cameron’s 1997 film “Titanic,” which won 11 Oscars, including Best Director and Best Picture. The film, featuring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in a fictional love story, also earned Winslet the Best Actress Oscar.
James Cameron, a diving enthusiast, has made several trips to the Titanic wreck and other deep-sea exploration sites, often using vessels designed or modified by him. His passion for the Titanic continues to inspire explorers and researchers worldwide.