The highest quality underwater footage of the Titanic has been released, showing the famous shipwreck with a level of detail never seen before. The 8K resolution video comes from OceanGate Expeditions, which captured the footage during the 2022 Titanic Expedition.
During an 8-day mission, the team surveyed the depths of the North Atlantic in a 93.6-metre vessel and thoroughly investigated the condition of the wreck with the help of submersibles, high-definition cameras, 3D sonar and a team of experts.
The footage captured many important parts of the ship, including the bow, the pier anchor, a huge anchor chain, and sturdy bronze capstans.
Rory Golden, OceanGate Expeditions Titanic expert and veteran Titanic diver, said: “We’re seeing new detail in this image. For example, I’ve never seen the name of Noah Hingley & Sons Ltd., an anchor manufacturer in pier anchors. I’ve been inspecting the wreck for decades and have completed multiple dives and this level of detail. “I can’t remember seeing another image showing it.”
The ocean liner, called the “Unsinkable”, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton in England to New York. At least 1,500 passengers were killed and the wreckage sank to the seafloor about 4,000 feet below sea level about 740 kilometers from Newfoundland in Canada.
The ship’s final resting place was not discovered until 1985, 73 years after it sank. Since then, fewer people have visited the wreckage of the Titanic than the number of people who have come out in space. OceanGate Expeditions offers shipwreck tours for a select few clients, for an undisclosed price.
But the days of this wreck may be numbered. Expeditions in recent years have shown that the ship was quickly disintegrated by rust, sea salt, bacteria, swarms of deep-sea creatures and other natural factors.
Since its discovery 37 years ago, the ship’s foremast has collapsed, the aft deck has collapsed, its bowl (lookout) has disappeared, and the gymnasium near the grand staircase has collapsed. It is feared that the next piece to collapse may be the bow of the ship.
Stockton Rush, President of OceanGate Expeditions, said: “When comparing recordings and images from 2021, we see minor changes in certain areas of the wreckage. Our science team will review 8k, 4k, and other images taken during the 2022 Titanic Expedition to see if there are any changes. On the Titan submarine as we dive. “Having experts allows them to assess the shipwreck through direct observation, guide us to explore the different features of the wreck, and continue their work using the images.”
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