TITANIC
Expedition 2024

Diana of Versailles

“Diana of Versailles” served as the centerpiece of the First Class Lounge on Titanic

Diana of Versailles in the Titanic Debris Field

Diana of Versailles

“Diana of Versailles” embodied Titanic’s palatial design.

“Diana of Versailles” embodied Titanic’s palatial design

Virtual recreation of Titanic’s First Class Lounge courtesy of TITANIC: HONOR AND GLORY

“Diana of Versailles” virtual recreation courtesy of TITANIC: HONOR AND GLORY

LOST TITANIC STATUE REDISCOVERED BY EXPEDITION 2024

On RMS Titanic, Inc.’s recent Expedition to the Titanic wreck site, over two million photos were taken, and countless artifacts were scouted for future recovery. At the top of the list of hopeful discoveries was a 2-foot-tall bronze statuette of the Roman goddess Diana. Known as “Diana of Versailles,” she served as the centerpiece of the First Class Lounge and embodied Titanic’s palatial design.

The lounge was torn open during Titanic’s sinking and Diana was thrown to the debris field where she has rested for over a century. She was photographed once in 1986 but a tradition of secrecy around the Titanic wreck ensured her location would remain unknown. That is until Expedition partner TITANIC: HONOR AND GLORY spotted what they believed to be Diana in footage from a previous RMST dive and passed along a rough search area to our Expedition team.

Multiple excursions ventured away from the Expedition to find this unique artifact, each led by RMST researcher James Penca. With just hours left on the final day of Expedition 2024, Diana was found and photographed. We are honored to release these breathtaking visuals captured by Marine Imaging Technologies and showcase the beautiful and intricate details of Diana not seen in 112 years.

TITANIC’S ICONIC BOW LOSS

TITANIC Expedition 2024 spent hundreds of hours on the mission documenting the debris field in greater detail and with better technology than ever before. RMS Titanic, Inc.’s first recovery mission was 75 years after Titanic sank. It has been almost 40 years since then, and we have watched her change throughout the years.

Titanic’s Bow is iconic. It is a haunting image rising from the sea floor as a testament to her strength and defiance. We’ve been able to watch the rusticles and sea life clinging to it evolve. In James Cameron’s 1997 film, it is where Jack had his memorable “King of the World” moment and taught Rose to fly. It’s the image that comes to mind when most people think of Titanic.

1987, RMS Titanic Inc.’s First Images

1993

1994

1998

2000

2010

2010 TITANIC Photomosaic showing missing Port Railing, new loss since last publicly available images taken in 2022

2010 Photomosaic showing missing Port Railing, new loss since last publicly available images taken in 2022.

TITANIC 2024, Missing Port Rail from Prow

2024, Missing Port Rail from Prow

TITANIC 2024, Port Railing on Sea Floor

2024, Port Railing on Sea Floor

After 13 days focused on the debris field, 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. The once miraculously intact railing surrounding the Bow’s forecastle deck was missing a 15-foot-long section on the port side.

The Expedition team and partners at 3D at Depth immediately reviewed the multibeam imagery from two days prior to confirm that the section of railing had fallen as one piece and was lying on the seafloor directly below.

We are saddened by this loss and the inevitable decay of the Ship and the debris. Over the course of the next few weeks and months, we will conduct a more thorough review of Titanic’s condition and her changes over time. Although Titanic’s collapse is inevitable, this evidence strengthens our mission to preserve and document what we can before it is too late.

TITANIC 2024 Expedition

Expedition Objectives

Image

Preserve the existing state of the site digitally.
Protect the site by comparing to 2010 imaging to determine the impact of the oceans and other expeditions on the site.
Study the deterioration at the site and the state of the Marconi Wireless Room.

Discover

New areas of the debris field.
New marine life previously unknown or unseen.
New areas of deterioration which could provide unobstructed access to the interior of the ship.

Inspire

Engage the worldwide community to be involved in the identification/determination of artifacts for future potential recovery.
Bring the wreck site to the public in exhibitions, classrooms, and immersive experiences through personal computers and mobile devices with unprecedented clarity to see what only a few in the world will ever see first-hand.
Involvement in carrying the legacy of Titanic forward by continuing the work at the site through education, career paths in science, technology, engineering, arts, deep ocean exploration, digital content, research, and creative storytelling.

Honor

The work and contributions of P.H. Nargeolet to our knowledge of the sea, of the Titanic wreck site, and of Titanic’s passengers and crew through the art of artifact recovery. A memorial service was held to honor P.H., the other Titan crew members, and all of those who perished on the fateful night that the Titanic sank.

Learn More About Previous Expeditions

Learn More

Partners

RMS Titanic, Inc. is very thankful for the support of our partners.

Our Team

RMS Titanic, Inc. was pleased to partner with world-renowned scientists, oceanographers, naval architects, microbial biologists, metallurgists, historians, and other experts for TITANIC Expedition 2024. All expeditions to survey and recover artifacts have been a collaborative effort, bringing scientists from many different domains and countries together, united in the goal of studying the wreck site. We were honored to work with the following key individuals during the Titanic Expedition 2024:

Troy Launay

President of TR LaunaY Inc. & Expedition Co-Leader

David Gallo, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives for RMS Titanic, Inc. & Expedition Co-Leader

Rory Golden

Titanic Historian and Chief Morale Officer

Evan Kovacs

Director of Underwater Photography

Tomasina Ray

Director of Collections, RMS Titanic, Inc.

James Penca

TITANIC Researcher & Spokesperson

C-Innovation

Deep Sea Operations

FAQs

Expeditions allow RMS Titanic, Inc. to fulfill our Mission to preserve the legacy of Titanic and her passengers and crew, not just through artifact recovery, but also through continuous research, imaging, and educational initiatives. Technology is improving at an incredible pace and we are able to do more now than as recently as two years ago. We are committed to bringing the world current and relevant information in innovative and engaging platforms which, unlike the site itself, are accessible to the public and not just a select few. Expeditions allow us to bring the wreck site to the public and meet our responsibility as salvor-in-possession to preserve the site in perpetuity for future generations.

We are committed and passionate about sharing what we learn from our expeditions. The data we collect and the information we uncover spans the scientific, historic, and objects that can be collected, imaged, and analyzed, especially for education and cultural appreciation. However, by utilizing the latest technology and imaging and leveraging the expertise of some of the most respected minds in various fields, the range of domains that benefit from our expeditions to the Titanic wreck site include climate science, marine biology, engineering, geology, geophysics, cinematography, maritime operations, naval science, and public policy as well as the creative arts.

Our expeditions are deeply researched, planned, and executed to ensure the greatest of care and concern for the safety of our crew, respect for Titanic and the wreck site, and environment. It takes between 2 and 2.5 hours to reach the bottom of the ocean where the Titanic wreck site lies, about 2.5 miles below the surface. The exact length of the expedition depends on the objectives of the mission, the weather conditions, and other factors. The primary objective is the safety of all involved in the expedition.

We are continuing to release updates on TITANIC Expedition 2024 on a regular basis. We know there is an intense curiosity and interest in this mission worldwide, and we want to fulfill our objective of educating the public about Titanic. The best place to track the Expedition information that was shared is by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Titanic Expedition 2024 was the ninth expedition to Titanic and the first since 2010. To date, we have honorably and respectfully conducted eight expeditions to the wreck site in 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2004. We recovered artifacts from the debris field in seven of those expeditions.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia recognized RMS Titanic, Inc. as the exclusive salvor-in-possession of Titanic in 1994. RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only entity able to legally recover artifacts and we take the designation very seriously. As salvor-in-possession, RMS Titanic Inc.’s activities with respect to Titanic must account for the public interest.

No, the artifacts we recover are not sold. Our Collections team ensures that they are carefully protected and preserved upon recovery. Then, working with our collections experts, they research the history and lives that might have been tied to the artifact so that those stories can be shared with guests who visit our permanent, touring and virtual exhibitions. They are also used in our educational programs to provide insightful and meaningful lessons in STEAM.

Museums can only display a scant number of objects and artifacts at any one time due to many limitations including space, curatorial staff, and other factors. RMS Titanic, Inc. believes it is in the best interest of the public to provide artifacts for display all over the world, which is why RMS Titanic, Inc. makes touring exhibitions of Titanic artifacts available. Our Collections team consists of some of the most respected, talented, and passionate professionally trained museum staff in the world.

TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition provides many opportunities to see permanent collections in Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. Touring exhibitions, which are extensions of the permanent exhibitions, are located throughout the world. Check discovertitanic.com for the latest touring exhibitions.

One of the objectives of Titanic Expedition 2024 was to image, research, and engage the community on potential artifacts for future recovery in 2025. We did not recover artifacts on this expedition. The mission of the Titanic Expedition 2024 was to continue the important work of surveying, mapping, and imaging the Titanic wreck site and debris field.