The 2005 expedition to Titanic was unique, and consisted of several elements all coming together and working in tandem under the direction of RMS TITANIC INC. Principle leadership of the expedition fell upon the shoulders of Mr. G. Michael Harris, son of Jack Grimm expedition historian Michael Harris, as well as artifact recovery supervised by Mr. Dik Barton. The Russian research vessel ‘Keldysh’ and Dr. Anatoly Sagalevich would once again play headquarters to a major combined Titanic search, recovery, and exploration expedition. This one, however, was the largest by far, as it played host to several individuals and groups with a vested interest in exploring and studying the wreck for their own unique projects:
Director James Cameron had returned to Titanic armed with his new ‘X-bots’ which were even smaller than Jake & Elwood and could go deeper into the wreck than ever before. Joining Cameron were Titanic historians & consultants Parks Stephenson, Ken Marschall, and Don Lynch. Subsequent exploration succeeded in documenting over 60% of the bow’s interior. The deepest exploration being the ships Turkish Baths which were discovered to be in remarkable condition.
Alongside Cameron at times was explorer Mike McKimm whose Titanic journey to explore the wreck and lay a plaque on the site, was chronicled for the BBC exclusive special “A Journey To Remember”. Joining the plaque laying ceremony as well as artifact recovery was Titanic dive veteran Rory Golden.
The History channel had a film crew onboard as well, which saw TItanic historian, cinematographer, author, and explorer Robert Goldsmith’s arrival to the site. Mr. Goldsmith, had won a contest thrown by the History channel earlier that year for an exclusive seat on the expedition and a dive to Titanic which was to be covered by the documentary “A Tale of Two Journeys”
Landscape painter and maritime artist Roger Bansemer returned to the Titanic, armed with a fistful of sketches, paintings, and copies of his book. Mr. Bansemer had returned to certify ‘expedition artwork’ on Titanic and complete more art of the doomed liner as he glimpsed her outside the submersibles viewport. Several works of his art and copies of his book were signed, stamped, and certified as having “Been to the TItanic” and the artwork would join his gallery and be made available for sale.
The entire affair was chronicled for the PBS series “Painting and Travel with Roger and Sarah Bansemer” and showcased in episode 12, Journey to Titanic. The episode can be found, and purchased on dvd format from the Bansemer art website, along with the book of the same name that showcases his artwork of Titanic from his previous visit to Titanic in 2000..
“Shadow Divers” Richie Kohler and John Chatterton teamed up with Titanic veteran historian & diver Ralph White to explore Titanic’s debris field for more evidence of the breakup, and ultimately discovered a SECOND previously unseen part of Titanic’s double bottom. The one half of the double bottom was spotted by P.H. Nargeolet and RMSTI previously back in the 90’s but this one was brand new and had never been seen before. For the first time ever it was discovered that Titanic’s double bottom had indeed held on as the ship broke in half, and the discovery would provide for a complete re-working on the manner in which the ship broke up which was featured in the History Channel documentary “Titanic’s Final Moments: Missing Pieces”
In memoriam of all those lost in the Titanic disaster. Our aim is to honour those and their long fall from the world above.
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