The most visible change is the disappearance of part of the railing on the bow of the ship, which became a symbol of Titanic thanks to the famous movie scene with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Director of Collections at RMS Titanic Inc. Tomasina Ray today says: “The bow of the Titanic is iconic. What we are seeing now is a reminder of the constant decay that takes place every day.”
The expedition found that an approximately 4.5 meter long section of the railings crashed in the last two years. The finding underscores the speed at which the condition of one of the world’s most legendary wrecks is deteriorating.
the railing on the front of the Titanic is collapsing
courtesy of RMS Titanic, Inc
This year’s expedition used advanced technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which captured over two million images and 24 hours of high-definition video. This footage will be used to create a detailed 3D model of the entire wreck.
One of the most remarkable discoveries was the discovery of a bronze statue of Diana from Versailles. The 60cm tall statue, once on display in the luxurious first class lounge, was first spotted in 1986, but its exact location remained unknown. James Penca, researcher and host of the Titanic podcast, referred to this discovery as “significant”.
On a recent expedition by RMS Titanic, Inc. more than two million photographs were taken of the Titanic wreck and countless artifacts were examined for future salvage. Among the biggest discoveries was a bronze model of the Roman goddess Diana, known as “Diana of Versailles”, which was the centerpiece of the first class lounge and symbolized the Titanic’s palatial design.
courtesy of RMS Titanic, Inc
The discoveries have reignited the debate over whether the Titanic wreck should be left intact as an undersea grave, or whether the artifacts should be saved for future generations. RMS Titanic Inc is planning another expedition to retrieve some of the items, including the statue of Diana.
Penca argues in favor of the rescue: “Bringing Diana back for people to see for themselves is of enormous value for awakening interest in history, diving, wreck preservation and sculpture.”
As the debate unfolds, one thing is certain – time is working relentlessly on the Titanic, and each expedition may be the last chance to capture its current state for the future.
