Titan sub implosion heightens concerns of damage to Titanic from tourist expeditions

Experts have revealed the big problem about tourist expeditions to the Titanic wreckage, situated 4000m below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface.

The US authority on Titanic artefacts says tourist trips to the wreck site risk seriously damaging the already weakened and decaying wreck.

Situated 4000 metres below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface, there is always an element of risk when exploring the 1912 wreckage — which is also the watery grave of some 1,500 who perished when it sank — according to RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), president Jessica Sanders.

The Titanic wreckage is located approximately 12,500 feet below the ocean’s surface. Picture: Instagram/ArthurLoibl

“That’s part of our concern, and that was part of our concern when they started tourist expeditions,” she told the New York Postwhen asked about damage from the recent Titan submersible implosion.

“There have been a lot of expeditions in the last couple of years. They say that they didn’t do anything … We just need to verify,” she added.

Mercifully, debris from the Titan implosion which killed all five aboard was found 1,600 feet from the bow (front) of the ship, meaning it is unlikely to have caused damage to the wreck, but the US and Canadian Coast Guards’ survey and salvage operation is ongoing.

he Titanic wreck site is located approximately 725km from the coast of Newfoundland. Picture: Instagram/ArthurLoibl

“Again, we have no reason to believe that the Titan submersible came in contact with the wreck site. The investigation is ongoing,” Ms Sanders clarified.

OceanGate Expeditions’ Titan submersible embarked on its journey to the Titanic wreckage early June 18, and resulted in the loss of five passengers — including RMST’s director of underwater research, famed pioneer Paul-Henri “PH” Nargeolet.

The remaining passengers were budding college student Sulaiman Dawood, his successful businessman father Shahzada Dawood, UK billionaire explorer Hamish Harding and OceanGate’s CEO and co-founder, Stockton Rush.

The Titanic wreckage spans roughly 2.5 square-miles.

All were also killed in the deep sea when part of the vessel failed causing damage to the pressurised hull making the craft implode, according to the US Coast Guard.

As the company with the US salvage rights to bring artefacts from the deep sea wreck to the surface, RMST is also the authority on conservation of the wreck site.

Submersible pilots must have the necessary expertise, and must also follow strict guidelines when navigating the 2.5 square-mile Titanic wreck site, Ms Sanders noted.

“It’s kind of like going to a museum, you know,” she explained. “You can’t let your kids run free.”

But she rejected the idea that expeditions would never resume.

Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Suleman Dawood and his father Shahzada Dawood. Pictures: Joal Saget and various sources / AFP

Asked if last week’s tragic events caused her feelings surrounding commercial expeditions to change, Ms Sanders admitted it had, but said Nargeolet — somewhat ironically — believed the wreck site “shouldn’t be just for a handful of people who can afford to get there”.

“Everybody should be able to see the artefacts, and it shouldn’t be just a millionaire, a billionaire or the military or a filmmaker that can go down to the wreck site,” she recalled of Nargeolet’s beliefs.

“It’s difficult because this one ended in a tragedy. But do I think the response is you should never be able to go? Then that contradicts a person that I deeply respected.”

The OceanGate submersible imploded on its way to the Titanic, killing all five passengers on board. Picture: Becky Kagan Schott / OceanGate Expeditions

She emphasised a need for “respectful rules while it’s still an active site”.

RMST has since been trying to concoct a way to “bring the wreck site to the public,” so their only option is not venturing into the deep sea.

Several groups, including famed international organisation The Explorers Club and deep-sea mapping firm Magellan have said they do not have any expeditions to the Titanic wreckage planned for the remainder of the year.

“I think the world is done with that for this year and would, would highly criticise anybody trying to go,” Ms Sanders added.

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and is republished here with permission