A deal with the U.S. Navy is what it took to find the lost wreckage of the RMS Titanic, a cross-Atlantic vessel that sank in 1912.
Dr. Robert Ballard, a professor at the University of Rhode Island, led an expedition to uncover the hidden location of where the Titanic lay 73 years later after it sank. Marking Sept. 1, the anniversary of finding the location of where the Titanic laid.
Since then, many individuals have been fascinated with seeing the wreckage. There have
been hundreds of expeditions to view the remains which lie deep in the sea. The majority of these expeditions have been conducted by the deep-dive company OceanGate, which serves elites such as CEO’s, entrepreneurs and military officers.
OceanGate has been carrying out Titanic expeditions since 2009 but ceased activities in 2023 due to the tragic implosion of one of their Titan submersibles which killed all five passengers on board.
Following the closing of the deep-dive company, OceanGate and many other submersible
companies appeared to close down due to fear of another accident like the Titan implosion. With no deep-dive submarines or expeditions, Titanic tours came to an end.
Many historians, professors or just Titanic fanatics may see this as haunting. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says the “Titanic shipwreck holds exceptional national and international significance. It is one of the greatest jewels of world maritime heritage.” It is a ship that is frozen in time, to many this ship is important due to the history it holds and the cultural impact it has had around the world.
However, an end to the expeditions can be a positive for the wreck itself and to the families who lost loved ones in the disaster. Unlike individuals who view visiting the Titanic as beneficial, many see it as detrimental. They deem it disrespectful and disgusting to treat the wreckage like a novelty graveyard to tour for money.
Unfortunately, after hundreds of deep-dive explorations, the Titanic has suffered damages. Soon, the Titanic won’t exist due to corrosion and human-effects, finally putting an end to deep-dive explorations and the market.
Luckily, there are many museums like the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Canada, memorials and exhibitions across the world dedicated to the Titanic and the passengers aboard who lost their lives.
