http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/titanic/welcome.html en-us ℗ & © 2012 NOAA, Ocean Explorer NOAA, Ocean Explorer: R.M.S. Titanic Expeditions 2003-2004 NOAA, Ocean Explorer The 883-foot Royal Mail Ship (R.M.S.) Titanic was thought to be unsinkable on its first Atlantic crossing from Southampton, England to New York City when it struck an iceberg and sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. 1,517 people lost their lives in the icy North Atlantic including the ship’s captain, 832 passengers and 684 crew members. Some of the 706 survivors describe the Titanic breaking in half while sinking, explaining why explorers found the forward and aft sections of the ship separated by almost half a kilometer. The forward section shown here is nearly intact, while the aft section was badly damaged by implosions as the ship sank. With support from NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, marine archaeologists and other scientists are now using new technology to research and manage the site. Tools such as remotely-operated vehicles and human-occupied submersibles extend our capability to work in the deep ocean on shipwrecks such as R.M.S. Titanic nearly two and a half miles below the surface. NOAA expeditions to Titanic in 2003 and 2004 revealed new insights on the processes causing the ship to slowly degrade. One of these processes is caused by microorganisms that consume the iron contained in the steel hull. “Rusticles”, rust colored formations that look like rusty icicles, are the result. Research on the effects of iron-consuming bacteria found on Titanic can now be applied to better understand deterioration of deepwater steel-hulled shipwrecks all over the world. NOAA has a continuing interest in the protection and preservation of Titanic and under the authority of the R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Act of 1986, issued Guidelines for the Research, Exploration and Salvage of R.M.S. Titanic in 2001. The 883-foot Royal Mail Ship (R.M.S.) Titanic was thought to be unsinkable on its first Atlantic crossing from Southampton, England to New York City when it struck an iceberg and sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. 1,517 people lost their lives in the icy North Atlantic including the ship’s captain, 832 passengers and 684 crew members. Some of the 706 survivors describe the Titanic breaking in half while sinking, explaining why explorers found the forward and aft sections of the ship separated by almost half a kilometer. The forward section shown here is nearly intact, while the aft section was badly damaged by implosions as the ship sank. With support from NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, marine archaeologists and other scientists are now using new technology to research and manage the site. Tools such as remotely-operated vehicles and human-occupied submersibles extend our capability to work in the deep ocean on shipwrecks such as R.M.S. Titanic nearly two and a half miles below the surface. NOAA expeditions to Titanic in 2003 and 2004 revealed new insights on the processes causing the ship to slowly degrade. One of these processes is caused by microorganisms that consume the iron contained in the steel hull. “Rusticles”, rust colored formations that look like rusty icicles, are the result. Research on the effects of iron-consuming bacteria found on Titanic can now be applied to better understand deterioration of deepwater steel-hulled shipwrecks all over the world. NOAA has a continuing interest in the protection and preservation of Titanic and under the authority of the R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Act of 1986, issued Guidelines for the Research, Exploration and Salvage of R.M.S. Titanic in 2001. www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov kyle.carothers@noaa.gov no www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov (May - June) Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned in June 2004, helped by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean Exploration, to study the ship's rapid deterioration. This 11 day "Look, don't touch" mission utilized high-definition video and stereoscopic still images to provide an updated assessment of the wreck site at an enormous depth of 3,840 meters (12,600 feet). Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned in June 2004 helped by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean Exploration, to study the ship's rapid deterioration. The team worked aboard the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown from May 30 through June 9 spending 11 days at the wreck site, mapping the ship and conducting scientific analysis of its deterioration. Using the Institute for Exploration (IFE) remotely operated vehicles (ROV's) Hercules and Argus, to conduct a sophisticated documentation of the state of Titanic was not possible in the 1980's. This "Look, don't touch" mission utilized high-definition video and stereoscopic still images to provide an updated assessment of the wreck site at an enormous depth of 3,840 meters (12,600 feet). As the nation's ocean agency, NOAA has a vested interest in the scientific and cultural aspects of the Titanic, and in its appropriate treatment and preservation. NOAA's focus is to build a baseline of scientific information from which we can measure the shipwreck's processes and deterioration, and then to apply the knowledge we gain to other deep-water shipwrecks and submerged cultural resources. Video courtesy of the R.M.S. Titanic Expedition Team 2004, ROI, IFE, NOAA-OE. Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned in June 2004 helped by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean Exploration, to study the ship's rapid deterioration. The team worked aboard the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown from May 30 through June 9 spending 11 days at the wreck site, mapping the ship and conducting scientific analysis of its deterioration. Using the Institute for Exploration (IFE) remotely operated vehicles (ROV's) Hercules and Argus, to conduct a sophisticated documentation of the state of Titanic was not possible in the 1980's. This "Look, don't touch" mission utilized high-definition video and stereoscopic still images to provide an updated assessment of the wreck site at an enormous depth of 3,840 meters (12,600 feet). As the nation's ocean agency, NOAA has a vested interest in the scientific and cultural aspects of the Titanic, and in its appropriate treatment and preservation. NOAA's focus is to build a baseline of scientific information from which we can measure the shipwreck's processes and deterioration, and then to apply the knowledge we gain to other deep-water shipwrecks and submerged cultural resources. Video courtesy of the R.M.S. Titanic Expedition Team 2004, ROI, IFE, NOAA-OE. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/media/movies/titanic2004_h.264_qt480.m4v Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:07:00 GMT 5:53 R.M.S Titanic, White Star disaster, 1912, Accident, Sea, Iceberg, NOAA, Ocean Explorer, Bob Ballard http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov (May-June) Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned to help study the ship's rapid deterioration. (May-June) Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned to help study the ship's rapid deterioration. (May-June) Nearly 20 years after first finding the sunken remains of the R.M.S. Titanic, marine explorer Robert Ballard returned to help study the ship's rapid deterioration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/welcome.html http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/welcome.html Sat, 12 June 2004 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Bob Ballard, ROVs, Titanic, Debris Field, Underwater, Diving, Dive, Snorkel, Snorkeling, environment, adventure http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov View a Google Map of the wreck site location for the R.M.S. Titanic. View a Google Map of the wreck site location for the R.M.S. Titanic. View a Google Map of the wreck site location for the R.M.S. Titanic. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/media/titanic_google_map.html http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/media/titanic_google_map.html Sat, 12 June 2004 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Bob Ballard, ROVs, Titanic, Debris Field, Underwater, Diving, Dive, Snorkel, Snorkeling, environment, adventure http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov NOAA, Ocean Explorer R.M.S. Titanic Expedition 2004: Lesson Plan Focus: Marine archaeology of Titanic (Physical Science) Looking for Clues (8 pages, 316k) - In this activity, students will be able to draw inferences about a shipwreck given information on the location and characteristics of artifacts from the wreck, and will list three processes that contribute to the Titanic's deterioration. Looking for Clues (8 pages, 316k) - In this activity, students will be able to draw inferences about a shipwreck given information on the location and characteristics of artifacts from the wreck, and will list three processes that contribute to the Titanic's deterioration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/edu/media/Titanic04.Clues.pdf Thur, 27 May 2004 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Ocean Explorer, Ocean Explorer, oceanexplorer, Lesson Plans, Debris Field, Artifact, Galvanic Coupling, Rusticle, Education Grades 5-6, Titanic http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/welcome.html NOAA, Ocean Explorer R.M.S. Titanic Expedition 2004: Lesson Plan Focus: Galvanic exchange and the deterioration of the Titanic (Physical Science) Galvanic vs. Titanic (5 pages, 276k) - In this activity, students will be able to describe galvanic exchange and explain how it contributes to deterioration of the Titanic. Given two dissimilar metals and information on their position in an Electromotive Series, students will be able to predict which of the metals will deteriorate if they are placed in a salt solution. Students will also be able to list two other processes that contribute to the shipwreck's deterioration. Galvanic vs. Titanic (5 pages, 276k) - In this activity, students will be able to describe galvanic exchange and explain how it contributes to deterioration of the Titanic. Given two dissimilar metals and information on their position in an Electromotive Series, students will be able to predict which of the metals will deteriorate if they are placed in a salt solution. Students will also be able to list two other processes that contribute to the shipwreck's deterioration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/edu/media/Titanic04.Galvanic.pdf Thur, 27 May 2004 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Ocean Explorer, Ocean Explorer, oceanexplorer, Lesson Plans, Galvanic Exchange, Electromotive Series, Oxidation, Corrosion, Education Grades 7-8, Titanic http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/welcome.html NOAA, Ocean Explorer R.M.S. Titanic Expedition 2004: Lesson Plan Focus: What processes are responsible for rapid deterioration of the wreck of Titanic (Physical Science/Biological Science) What's Eating Titanic? (5 pages, 268k) - In this activity, students will be able to describe three processes that contribute to the deterioration of the Titanic, and define and describe rusticles, explaining their contribution to biodeterioration. Students will also be able to explain how processes that oxidize iron in Titanic’s hull differ from iron oxidation processes in shallow water. What's Eating Titanic? (5 pages, 268k) - In this activity, students will be able to describe three processes that contribute to the deterioration of the Titanic, and define and describe rusticles, explaining their contribution to biodeterioration. Students will also be able to explain how processes that oxidize iron in Titanic’s hull differ from iron oxidation processes in shallow water. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/edu/media/Titanic04.Rusticles.pdf Thur, 27 May 2004 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Ocean Explorer, Ocean Explorer, oceanexplorer, Lesson Plans, Biodeterioration, Rusticle, Iron Oxidation, Education Grades 9-12, Titanic http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04titanic/welcome.html www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov (June) A team conducted four Mir dives to the Titanic in order to assess the wreck site and conduct scientific observations to support ongoing research. (June) A team conducted four Mir dives to the Titanic in order to assess the wreck site and conduct scientific observations to support ongoing research. (June) A team conducted four Mir dives to the Titanic in order to assess the wreck site and conduct scientific observations to support ongoing research. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03titanic/welcome.html http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03titanic/welcome.html Sun, 22 June 2003 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Bob Ballard, ROVs, Telepresence, Underwater, Diving, Dive, Snorkel, Snorkeling, environment, adventure http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov (June) Tiny microbes are at work 3,800 meters under the sea at the site of the Titanic shipwreck. The microbes feed off iron from the ship, forming icicle-shaped 'rusticles.' Tiny microbes are at work 3,800 meters under the sea at the site of the Titanic shipwreck. The microbes feed off iron from the ship, forming icicle-shaped 'rusticles.' Although rusticle formations on Titanic have been observed for many years, not much effort has gone into studying them. This expedition sent two Mir submersibles to survey the microbes that are infesting the ship and to determine their rate of growth. Tiny microbes are at work 3,800 meters under the sea at the site of the Titanic shipwreck. The microbes feed off iron from the ship, forming icicle-shaped 'rusticles.' Although rusticle formations on Titanic have been observed for many years, not much effort has gone into studying them. This expedition sent two Mir submersibles to survey the microbes that are infesting the ship and to determine their rate of growth. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03titanic/rusticles/rusticles.html http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03titanic/rusticles/rusticles.html Sun, 22 June 2003 19:00:00 GMT NOAA, NOAA Okeanos Explorer, Bob Ballard, ROVs, Telepresence, Underwater, Diving, Dive, Snorkel, Snorkeling, environment, adventure http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_300.jpg http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov