The sunken statue with the "Titanic" reappears

RMS Titanic Inc., a Georgia-based company that legally owns the rights to the 112-year-old wreck, completed its first expedition since 2010 and revealed new images of the site

(Euronews) - A bronze statue from the "Titanic", long thought to have been lost forever, has been rediscovered during a recent expedition by the company that holds the rights to intervene at the site of the ship's sinking.

The expedition to the North Atlantic Ocean, where the Titanic sank, coincided with the US Coast Guard investigation into the explosion of the Titan - another diving company - in June 2023. 

The disaster after the sinking of the "Titan" killed all five members on board, including Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was the director of underwater research for the "RMS Titanic".

"RMS Titanic Inc." described the finds from this summer's trip as a "bittersweet mix of preservation and loss."

But a major highlight was the rediscovery of the Diana of Versailles statue, which has not been seen since 1986. The company has now released a clear and updated image of the statue.

However, a significant portion of the railing surrounding the ship's bow castle deck has fallen, RMS Titanic has announced. The railing was still attached in 2022, the company said.
"The unveiling of Diana's statue was an exciting moment. But we are saddened by the loss of the iconic Bow Railing and other evidence of the wreck, which has only strengthened our commitment to preserving Titanic's legacy," said Tomasina Ray, Director of Collections for RMS Titanic. .

The team spent 20 days on location and returned to Providence, Rhode Island on August 9. They captured more than two million of the highest resolution images ever taken of a shipwreck. The team also fully mapped the ruins and the further debris field using advanced equipment that will be used to improve understanding of that terrain.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard's investigation into the Titan submarine tragedy will be the focus of a public hearing later in September. Nargeolet's family has filed a lawsuit against OceanGate, the operator of the Titan sub, which has since suspended operations.