RMS Titanic, Inc. to Utilize Two Remotely Operated Vehicles for Comprehensive Exploration and Mapping of the Titanic Wreck.
On July 13, the 2024 RMS Titanic expedition commenced aboard the Dino Chouest, a 106-meter-long special construction vessel operating in deep waters with a home port in Galliano, Louisiana. This marks the 9th expedition by RMS Titanic, Inc., established in 2010, and the first visit to the wreck since the Titan submersible from OceanGate tragically imploded. Unlike previous expeditions, this journey will not use a manned submersible but instead deploy two Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The aim of the mission is to survey the most detailed imagery of the famous wreck to ascertain how the marine environment is affecting it, according to New Atlas.
One of the two ROVs used to explore the Titanic wreck. (Photo: New Atlas).
Manufactured by Schilling Robotics, one of the two submersibles, named Ultra Heavy Duty X-Treme ROV, is a third-generation underwater vehicle capable of descending to depths of 4,000 meters. It can carry equipment weighing up to 450 kilograms and is powered by an electric motor for propulsion. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a high-resolution real-time video system. The other ROV will utilize laser systems to accurately map the wreck’s layout.
The 2024 expedition aims to create the most comprehensive digital scan of the wreck since 2010. By comparing this data with earlier surveys, researchers will be able to observe how the wreck is deteriorating, identify artifacts at risk of destruction that require recovery for preservation, with a particular focus on the famous SOS signal room. The use of sonar during the survey will help detect any metals in the wreck as well as those buried beneath the silt at the bottom. RMS Titanic, Inc. has stated that they will not be collecting any artifacts during this expedition.
The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. As the largest passenger ship in the world at the time, the vessel sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, USA. When the iceberg crushed the bow plating, Atlantic Ocean waters quickly flooded in, sinking the ship.
Since the Titanic wreck was discovered by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel in 1985, it has become a focal point for explorers, adventure seekers, and businesses. RMS Titanic, Inc. is permitted to collect items from the wreck site with certain restrictions. They do not sell these artifacts but instead display them for the public.
