First Titanic voyage in 14 years begins after sub tragedy, hopes high

Titanic Salvage Firm Embarks on First Expedition Since Tragic Submersible Incident

The company holding the salvage rights to the Titanic has launched its first mission to the shipwreck since 2010, following a recent submersible disaster. RMS Titanic Inc. (RMST Inc.), based in Georgia, holds the exclusive rights to salvage artifacts from the Titanic, which sunk in 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean. The new expedition set sail from Providence, Rhode Island, and comes at a poignant time for the undersea exploration community, still mourning a fatal incident involving another company’s submersible just last year.

In June 2023, the Titan submersible tragically imploded, killing all five people on board. Among the victims was , the director of underwater research for RMST Inc., and a veteran diver known affectionately as “Mr. Titanic.” This year's mission holds additional emotional significance due to his passing, explained RMST Inc. president Jessica Sanders. The expedition aims to document the Titanic using advanced imaging technology and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), capturing detailed views of the wreck and the surrounding debris field.

"This monumental undertaking will allow us to document the Titanic in unprecedented detail and share new discoveries from the wreck site with the public, continuing the extraordinary work and passion of PH," Sanders stated.

The ship designated for this mission, the Dino Chouest, is expected to take several days to reach the Titanic site and aims to return around August 13, according to Jon Hammond, a spokesperson for RMST Inc. The mission will enable a thorough assessment of the Titanic's current condition and help identify artifacts that could be safely recovered in future missions.

Nargeolet had made more than 35 dives to the Titanic throughout his career. The Titan disaster also claimed the lives of Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, members of a prominent Pakistani family, as well as British adventurer Hamish Harding. OceanGate, the company behind Titan, halted operations a year ago.

The U.S. Coast Guard has initiated an investigation into the Titan tragedy, but the process is taking longer than anticipated, leaving much of the undersea exploration community eagerly awaiting its conclusions. This current RMST Inc. expedition marks a significant step in the ongoing exploration and understanding of the Titanic site, emphasized Katy Croff Bell, founder of the Ocean Discovery League.

"The Coast Guard investigation is still ongoing and they have not released their results yet, so the final chapter in this episode has yet to come out," Bell noted. "One thing that has come out is there is perhaps more interest."

Additionally, the new expedition will provide an opportunity to compare recent findings with imaging data from 2010. RMST Inc. representatives mentioned the mission may uncover new sections of the debris field, unknown marine life, and other areas of deterioration that could offer unprecedented access to the ship’s interior.

The trip’s vessel is equipped with two ROVs poised to capture the first comprehensive mapping images of the wreck and debris site. According to RMST Inc., the expedition will deploy "the highest resolution camera systems ever used at the site," aiming to deliver fresh insights about the Titanic to the wider community.

Underwater cinematographer Evan Kovacs, involved with the mission, stated the goal is to bring new revelations about the historic ship to light.