According to an article published in The Telegraph.co.uk, the wreck of the Titanic could be lost forever, say scientists, after the first dive expedition in 14 years showed key parts had been washed away.
Partial Collapse of Hull
Explorers making the first manned voyage to the Titanic wreckage in more than a decade said they had uncovered a partial collapse of the ship’s hull and that the Captain’s quarters had also deteriorated heavily.
Salt Corrosion and Bacteria Attack
Nearly 13,125ft (4,000m) beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, in water at a bitterly cold one degree, salt corrosion and metal-eating bacteria have worn away parts of the liner’s structure.
The team of divers found that the hull near the officers’ quarters on the starboard side of the ship has started to collapse, taking with it the vessel’s luxurious stateroom accommodation, according to exploration company Caladan Oceanic.
Deck Deteriorating in Time
Titanic historian Park Stephenson said the deterioration of the ship was “shocking”, adding: “That whole deck hole on that side is collapsing, taking with it the staterooms, and the deterioration is going to continue advancing.
“The captain’s bath tub is a favourite image among the Titanic enthusiasts, and that’s now gone.”
Scientist Lori Johnson raised fears that the wreck could be lost forever, saying: “The future of the wreck is going to continue to deteriorate over time, it’s a natural process”.
Bacteria Quickening The Process?
“These are natural types of bacteria, so the reason that the deterioration process ends up being quite a bit faster, is a group of bacteria, a community working symbiotically to eat, if you will the Iron and the sulphur.”
Documentary on Wreckage Exploration Published
The first ever 4K quality images of the ship were captured during the expedition and will be published alongside a documentary, which is being made by film company Atlantic Productions.
The footage will also make it possible to view the wreckage using interactive augmented reality and virtual reality technology.
Explorer Victor Vescovo, who is also chief executive of Caladan Oceanic, said he “wasn’t quite prepared” for how large the wreckage is.
He added: “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.”
5 dives To Study the Corrosion
A total of five dives to the wreck, which lies around 370 miles south of Newfoundland in Canada, were made over eight days using a submergence vehicle.
The Titanic, built by Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard, sank after hitting an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,500 people.
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Source: Telegraph.co.uk
