Titanic expedition shows lost bronze statue and photos

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island: A recent expedition to the wreck of the Titanic has rediscovered a bronze statue thought lost and released high-resolution photos showing the ongoing changes to the famous shipwreck.

RMS Titanic Inc., the Georgia-based company with salvage rights to the Titanic, made these discoveries during its first trip to the site since 2010.

The expedition took place as part of the US Coast Guard's investigation into the tragic implosion of the submersible Titan in June 2023, which belonged to another company. The disaster killed five people, including Paul-Henri Nargeolet, the head of underwater research on the RMS Titanic.

The summer expedition offered a mix of preservation and decay, according to a statement from RMS Titanic. One of the highlights was the rediscovery of the “Diana of Versailles” statue, last seen in 1986 and now captured in a new, clear image. However, the team also noted the loss of a significant portion of the iconic railing on the ship's bow, which was still standing in 2022.

“The rediscovery of the Diana statue was an exciting moment, but the loss of the bow rail and other signs of decay reinforces our determination to preserve Titanic's heritage,” said Tomasina Ray, head of collections at RMS Titanic.

The crew spent 20 days at the wreck site and returned to Providence, Rhode Island, on August 9. They captured over 2 million high-resolution images and fully mapped the wreck and surrounding debris field. This data is intended to improve understanding of the site and identify historically significant artifacts that may be recoverable on future missions.

The Coast Guard's investigation into the Titan submersible incident will be discussed at a public hearing later this month.

Meanwhile, Nargeolet's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OceanGate, the operator of the Titan submersible, which has since ceased operations. OceanGate has not commented on the lawsuit.