Rose may have said to Jack that she’ll never let go, but the Titanic itself is shedding some of its structure.
During a recent expedition to the Titanic shipwreck, explorers discovered that part of the vessel’s iconic bow-deck railing had broken off, People reported on Tuesday. The company RMS Titanic had ventured to the wreckage in July, and among its findings it noticed that a 15-foot-long section of the railing on the port side had fallen as one piece onto the seafloor below.
“The Expedition team was excited to get their first glance at the Bow on July 29. However, the moment of excitement and anticipation was immediately shaken by a significant change to the familiar silhouette,” RMS Titanic said in a statement. “We are saddened by this loss and the inevitable decay of the Ship and the debris … Although Titanic’s collapse is inevitable, this evidence strengthens our mission to preserve and document what we can before it is too late.”
The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg during its maiden voyage from England to New York in 1912. One of the most notable maritime disasters in history, the Titanic has become the subject of much fascination, with groups like RMS Titanic and wealthy individuals alike trying to visit the wreckage over the years. (RMS Titanic has carried out nine journeys to the shipwreck, People noted.) James Cameron’s re-creation of the trip in his 1997 Titanic notably featured the bow deck, with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack having his “king of the world” moment in that exact spot.
While the recent discovery may be a source of sadness for Titanic enthusiasts, RMS Titanic’s expedition wasn’t all misfortune. The team also found a two-foot-tall statue of the Roman goddess Diana in the surrounding debris field. “Diana of Versailles” had been located in the Titanic’s first-class lounge, which was torn open as the ship sank to the bottom of the sea. The statue was photographed once before in 1986, but this is the first time teams have gotten a good look since then. “Like the eternal Roman deities, she is timeless,” RMS Titanic wrote on Instagram.
Given that it’s been 112 years since the Titanic went down, it’s rather incredible that the shipwreck is still delighting—and frustrating—us with its surprises.
Authors
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Tori Latham
