Titanic Expedition

25- Years After Titanic’s Discovery, New Expedition Seeks to Virtually Raise the Wreck

In an Exclusive Broadcast Partnership with NBC News and NBC’s Peacock Productions, RMS Titanic, Inc., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Leading Experts Join Forces this August to Preserve the Legacy of the Ship for all Time

Expedition Titanic RMS Titanic, Inc. (the Salvor-In-Possession of RMS Titanic and its wreck site) in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Waitt Institute will conduct a ground- breaking expedition to Titanic 25 years after its discovery, to do what no one has ever attempted before: take innovative measures to virtually raise Titanic, preserving the legacy of the Ship for all time. NBC News and NBC’s Peacock Productions will be the exclusive broadcast partner, with exclusive coverage on MSNBC.com.

In what is arguably the most technologically advanced scientific expedition to Titanic ever organized, RMS Titanic, Inc. has brought together a team of leading archaeologists, oceanographers and scientists including The Institute of Nautical Archaeology, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Sanctuaries Program, and The National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center to execute this historic “mission of firsts.”

Launching from St. John’s, Newfoundland on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, this 20-plus day expedition will employ revolutionary acoustic imaging, sonar technologies and high resolution optical, video and 3-D imaging to provide the first comprehensive view of the entire wreck site with unprecedented accuracy and clarity. Through this suite of sophisticated robots, sonars and cameras, leading experts will chart the boundaries of the wreck site, map the physical position of the Ship and its artifacts on the ocean floor, and create a blueprint that will inform the wreck site’s ongoing maintenance. Together, this data will work to paint a complete picture of Titanic that only a few have been able to witness first-hand.

Titanic enthusiasts will also experience the journey’s excitement and explore the wreck site in real time, with ongoing video feeds and photo postings, and interaction with key crew members through Facebook, Twitter and by visiting expeditiontitanic.com (launched on August 3).

“The significance and scope of this mission, the team we’ve assembled to carry it out, and the breakthrough technologies being deployed will give people the opportunity to experience Titanic like never before,” said Chris Davino, president of RMS Titanic, Inc. “RMS Titanic, Inc. has a singular purpose: to faithfully and respectfully preserve the memory of Titanic and of all who sailed with her. The goals and objectives of this expedition are fully aligned with that purpose.”

“As the first scientific expedition of this magnitude since Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, working with French colleagues from IFREMER, discovered the Titanic wreck site 25 years ago, this dive provides the perfect opportunity to utilize the exciting, new technologies we’ve been developing,” said Susan Avery, the president and director of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a leading voice in the oceanographic community. “This journey is going to give us important perspectives into the decomposition of the Ship and its effect on the ocean and the seabed.”

"NBC News is thrilled to be at the forefront of this expedition and we look forward to capturing all the work and cutting edge science involved in the retelling of this remarkable story," said Sharon Scott, Executive Vice President of NBC News' Peacock Productions.

Leading the expedition is P.H. Nargeolet, director of Underwater Research for RMS Titanic, Inc. and a widely acknowledged authority of the site. A veteran leader of five previous journeys to the wreck, Nargeolet has completed 30 Titanic dives, supervising the recovery of some 5,500 artifacts along the way. “Never before have we had the scientific and technological means to discover so much on an expedition to Titanic,” said Nargeolet. “I’m energized and honored to be leading this all-star team of experts on a fascinating journey.”

RMS Co-leading the expedition is David Gallo, director of special projects at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Gallo actively promotes deep-sea exploration and is moved by the unprecedented collaboration between private, non-profit, and government entities to make this expedition a success. “There is a tremendous amount of technology and talent being focused on preserving this important icon of world history, the clear beneficiary will be the public-at-large,“ said Gallo.

In virtually raising Titanic through three-dimensional modeling for the first time, this eighth expedition to Titanic by RMS Titanic, Inc. will mark numerous other firsts:

It is the first time this deep water wreck site will be transformed into an archaeological site with all scientific data available for review and study, including all of the factors influencing the wreck’s deterioration. This “road map” for the wreck site has critical implications for Titanic’s future.
Microorganisms collected at the site and evaluated through advanced technology may turn out to be distant relatives of the original microorganisms that went down with Titanic, which will unlock a wealth of new understanding and information about biodeterioration.
The use of high definition and 3D (3DHD) video will produce the clearest images yet of the wreck and its surroundings.
The mission will gather critical information to develop new standards in underwater archaeology for maritime heritage site management, especially in the deep sea.
Assembled by RMS Titanic, Inc. this is the first time that a team of leading authorities has come together on a mission to Titanic, each united in the quest to model and map Titanic for future generations and to work for the site’s long term preservation.
Located 2.5 miles below the ocean surface, Titanic came to rest in a three-square-mile field of debris. This summer, a “dream team” of oceanographic experts, technical innovators and marine archaeologists have joined together in cooperation to achieve the mission’s ambitious goals.

“The Institute of Nautical Archaeology pioneered the scientific study and excavation of shipwrecks through the work of Dr. George Bass fifty years ago,” said James P. Delgado, president and CEO of Institute of Nautical Archaeology and the expedition’s principal archaeologist leading the effort to write the archaeological report and site plan after the mission. “Since then we have been involved in cutting edge work to refine the practice of archaeology beneath the water. We’re pleased to be invited to join this mission, working with leading researchers at Woods Hole, our government colleagues, and with RMS Titanic, Inc. to move in new directions for this site, and for science. This is a major step forward for this wreck, for understanding and working with deepwater shipwrecks, and represents all of us working for a common goal in the public interest.”

Additional organizations include: Droycon Bioconcepts- pioneers in the biological corrosion of shipwrecks, as well as scientific analysis of deep ocean flora; Nautilus Marine Group International- the premiere provider of underwater services, spanning condition assessment, navigational charting, and archaeology; and Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd.- the Canadian leader in the design and manufacture of underwater acoustic equipment, specializing in high-resolution sonar systems.