Titanic submarine implosion sparks fears of serious damage to historic wreck

02 July 2023 , 21:36

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There are concerns the Titanic wreck was damaged (Image: CBS via Getty Images)

Fears for the future of the Titanic wreck site remain after the tragic destruction of the Titan submersible that killed five men.

The president of RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), the only company allowed to salvage from the doomed ship, has warned that tourism to the ship risk damaging it.

Jessica Sanders told the New York Post: "That’s part of our concern, and that was part of our concern when they started tourist expeditions."

She added: "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."

Jessica said visiting the wreck is like "going to a museum" where people need to be respectful of what is around them.

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Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St John's, Newfoundland (AP)

RMST is also partly responsible for conservation of the site and visitors to it must follow strict guidelines when navigating the 2.5 square-mile area.

Titan suffered what was likely a "catastrophic implosion" near the wreck and a debris field was found around 1,600 feet from the bow.

The distance from the wreck means it is unlikely Titanic suffered further damage from the Titan implosion, but this has not been confirmed.

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

(PA)

A salvage operation by the US and Canadian Coast Guards in the wake of the disasters is ongoing.

The Titanic has long been a focus of disaster tourism ever since its final resting place was discovered in 1985.

The infamous ship secured its place in folklore under tragic circumstances when it sank after striking an iceberg on April 15, 1912. Over 1,500 people were killed as a result of the ship's demise.

The Titanic continues to draw people from all over the world (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

OceanGate Expeditions, the owner of the submersible, advertised a visit to the site for paying tourists.

Its five passengers included British billionaire Hamish Harding, businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son and OceanGate’s CEO and co-founder Stockton Rush.

Also killed was French diver and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who reportedly believed the ship "shouldn’t be just for a handful of people who can afford to get there."

Long-lost floor plan of the Titanic that was saved by survivor on doomed ship

Of Nargeolet and the horrific circumstances of his death, Jessica said: "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."

There are some calls after the Titan incident for visits to the Titanic to stop due to safety concerns.

Sebastian Harris visited the ship in a submersible with his father G. Michael Harris, when he was 13.

Sebastian Harris recalled a frightening experience when he became the youngest person to visit the Titanic wreck (Facebook)

"While we got down to [the] depth where it flowed over the bow, I spent some time placing a plaque. And then shortly after that, you know, as far as I knew, I fell asleep essentially," Sebastian told ‘The Story,’ adding his father, who was the expedition leader co-piloting the Mir II submersible tried to shake him awake.

"Turns out we were at 17% oxygen [in the submersible]. And so what happens? You go unconscious. They realized what the issue was, cranked the oxygen back up and ultimately everything was fine," he said.

Some groups including the RMST hope to bring the ship back up to be displayed on land.

Benjamin Lynch