September 2nd 2024.
Recent images have surfaced, revealing the deterioration of a section of the railings on the iconic bow of the Titanic. Through the use of specialized robots, these photos were captured during dives conducted over the summer. It is evident that a portion of the railing has detached since the last pictures were taken back in 2022. However, amidst this unfortunate discovery, another enticing find has been made – a stunning bronze statue.
The photographs taken by the robots this year have uncovered a bronze statue of Diana of Versailles, lying face up on the ocean floor. This statue was last seen in 1986, when it was photographed by Robert Ballard, the very man who had discovered the Titanic wreck just a year before. The statue was originally situated in the first class lounge of the ship, adding to its historical significance.
The bow and its railings have been immortalized in popular culture, particularly in James Cameron's blockbuster film released in 1997. The iconic scene of Jack proclaiming "I'm king of the world" and later teaching Rose how to "fly" take place on this very spot. Tomasina Ray, director of collections at RMS Titanic Inc, the company responsible for the expedition, spoke to the BBC about the significance of the bow. She stated, "The bow of Titanic is just iconic – you have all these moments in pop culture – and that's what you think of when you think of the shipwreck. And it doesn't look like that anymore. It's just another reminder of the ongoing deterioration that we witness every day. People often ask, 'How long will the Titanic be there?' The truth is, we just don't know. But we are able to witness its changes in real time."
As mentioned, the statue of Diana of Versailles was last photographed in 1986, and was recently rediscovered among the debris on the sea bed. In 2020, Magellan, a deep-sea mapping company, and Atlantic Productions, a documentary company, took photos and digital scans of the bow. At the time, the railing was still attached, but had begun to buckle. However, the railing is not the only part of the ship that is deteriorating. The entire metal structure is slowly being consumed by microbes, resulting in rust formations known as rusticles.
In 2019, a dive revealed that the officers quarters on the starboard side were collapsing, taking with it the state rooms and a view of the captain's bathtub. This year's dives, conducted in July and August, utilized two remotely operated vehicles and captured over two million images and 24 hours of high definition footage of the wreck, which rests 3,800m below the surface. When the Titanic sank in 1912, it split in two, with the bow and stern lying approximately 800m apart, surrounded by debris.
Among the debris was the Diana of Versailles statue, which measured 60cm. James Penca, a Titanic researcher and presenter of the Witness Titanic podcast, spoke about the significance of finding the statue. He explained, "It was like finding a needle in a haystack, and to rediscover it this year was truly momentous." James went on to describe how the Titanic split in two, causing the first class lounge, where the statue was located, to be torn open, sending the statue into the depths of the debris field. He also described the first-class lounge as the most beautiful and intricately detailed room on the ship, with the Diana of Versailles being the centerpiece.
RMS Titanic Inc is the only company with the rights to salvage parts of the ship and has retrieved numerous items over the years, displaying them around the world. They plan to return to the site next year in hopes of salvaging more items, including the Diana statue. However, their ongoing removal of objects from the site has received criticism. Pablo O'Hana, co-host of the Titanic podcast Unsinkable, expressed his concerns about the lack of proper oversight on Titanic expeditions. He stated, "For decades, scientists, experts, and renowned explorers, including the man who found the wreck, Dr. Robert Ballard, have warned about the need for proper preservation of this historic site. I have previously advocated for the establishment of an independent committee to ensure preservation and respect of this site." Pablo also mentioned that preservation does not require constant physical intrusion and that the Titanic's story can be shared through artifacts, museums, documentaries, and digital reconstructions.
On the other hand, James believes that the Diana statue is a piece of art that is meant to be appreciated. He stated, "To bring Diana back so people can see her with their own eyes – the value in that, to spark a love of history, of diving, of conservation, of shipwrecks, of sculpture, I could never leave that on the ocean floor." Despite the differing opinions on the salvage of artifacts from the Titanic, one thing is for sure – the ship's wreckage is slowly but surely succumbing to the effects of time and nature.
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