Titanic's Missing Pieces?

Now that the new discovery of the keel sections of Titanic have been publicly released, it is time for the Titanic enthusiasts to mull over the information. Although a discovery of this magnitude answers several questions, it poses even more questions about its interpretation. The naval architect, Roger Long gave a very plausible explanation of how two relatively intact keel sections could be found in a newly discovered debris field east of the main bow and stern sections of the wreck site. I find that I have so many questions to address regarding his potential scenario of the sinking. At times I found myself talking to the television and saying "No way!". 

Obviously I was not the only one that was saying something similar. Parks Stephenson, one of the show's technical experts that was portrayed at Woods Hole and member of the marine forensics panel of the Society of Naval Engineers, has a different take on the data retrieved from the discovery. His views can be found on his web site at Marconigraph.com and his analysis of the sinking seems more logical to me. That is not to say it is right or wrong, but I am more comfortable with his thoughts at the present time.

I am very grateful to David Concannon and Robert Williams for setting this whole investigative theory into an active hunt for the new evidence. In 2003, both Robert Williams and Fred McLaren spent their entire dives doing "sand sweeps" outside the perimeter of the main sections of Titanic in pursuit of keel pieces. Even though they had limited success, their time spent on the bottom ruled out sections that needed to be explored. I am sure that the limited amount of dives available to the latest research team can owe these researchers a debt of thanks for narrowing their search pattern.

As the new evidence is being "digested" by the many interested Titanic enthusiasts, including me, there will be many new and ingenious interpretations of the new discovery. For further analysis of the bow and stern sections of the ship, please visit our corporate web site and in the text of the homepage, select Educational Services for photographs of the wreck site from this year's scientific research Titanic exploration. I certainly need more information to satisfy my own curiosity. This new evidence does not rule out the grounding theory but certainly assists in a more accurate portrayal of speculation about Titanic's sinking. I think that Roger and Parks explanations, both very different, are a wonderful foundation for further research and study. I commend all of these individuals for putting together a thoroughly enjoyable evening that will be talked about for years to come!

Comments

[Susan Paxton]

David Brown, author of "Last Log of the Titanic," also present at Woods Hole, was in dissent along with Parks. I know that the producers think they have to simplify things for the TV audience but I disagree, and to have indicated that there were dissenting views would have made the entire program a lot more interesting (and nothing they showed disproved the "grounding theory" either).

I also found their "new animation" of the sinking both over the top and weirdly implausible.

[David Bright]

Hello Susan,

Many thanks for your comment. Parks Stephenson and David Brown co-authored a white paper on the "Grounding Theory" that has become the definitive source for the theory that Titanic not only grazed the starboard side of an iceberg, but also ran over the top of the berg. Until reading some recent threads on Encyclopedia Titanica from David Brown, I did not know where he stood regarding Roger Long's theory. Last week, in discussions with my good friend Robert Williams, he told me that he has been in contact quite regularly with David Brown. Robert will be mounting his third expedition out to Titanic in 2006 and I am sure that he will have a few major objectives in either proving or disproving the Grounding Theory. As for me, I totally agree with you that there was nothing from this new discovery that refutes the theory.

David Bright
Nautical Research Group, Inc.

[rich]

why is there no photographs of the titanic
name plates from either the Bow or stern

as these must have been either pressed in the
metal work or raised Lettering and welded on after

i expected to see TITANIC with Liverpool on the stern

[David Bright]

Hello Rich,

Most of the bow and stern sections where the nameplate is located is covered under a thick growth of rusticles. In the early 1990's, as part of the IMAX-French expedition, pioneer Titanic submersible diver, Ralph White, actually scrubbed a section of the bow looking for the nameplate and he was able to uncover a couple of the Titanic letters. Last year while diving and lecturing on Keldysh with Ralph White, he showed me pictures of the exposed lettters on Titanic's bow that he took as part of the IMAX expedition. I have no doubt that the letters are still there but obscured by the immense growth of the rusticles.
Many thanks for your excellent question!

David Bright
Nautical Research Group, Inc.