Titanic - Part VI Recent Photometric Analysis of the Shipwreck

Recently, there have been a series of media releases that appear to overstate man's direct visits to Titanic as having enhanced its destruction. As far as shipwrecks and the ocean, Titanic's bow is in better shape than the Empress of Ireland (sunk 1914), Lusitania (sunk 1915) and the Andrea Doria (sunk 1956). I have worked several years on the deterioration of RMS Titanic. Nautical Research Group will be going back to Titanic this summer (2005) to do some additional filming and study. As evidenced over the 20 years since man has visited the shipwreck, this deterioration is not linear but exponential. This is totally validated by my photometric analysis that takes into account all the previous years of filming the wreck site from Dr. Ballard's earliest discovery of the ship to my last filming of the ship in 2003 . The theory regarding the relationship between the increase in plankton and its effect on the microbes of the Titanic seems to be very valid. I am trying to design an experiment that could be used to scientifically validate the increase in plankton raining down on Titanic. Obviously, as we deplete the fishing areas of the Grand Banks, it is anticipated that we should see an increase of this plankton coming down on Titanic until there is a steady state. Whether we have already attained steady-state or not needs to be explored. Obviously, this research should go hand-in-hand with the research done by Roy Cullimore and Lori Johnston regarding the rate of microbes devouring the steel of Titanic. In discussions with the oceanographic biologist, Dr. Charles Fisher of Penn State,  it is NOT believed that there is an increase in the number of microbes on Titanic but we are seeing an increase in the amount of "food" sources that is literally turning these normal relatively-dormant microbes into feeding machines. The huge crack on the starboard side of the bow (photo is copyrighted by Nautical Research Group) has never been filmed before (as far as I know, only on my film) and it seems to indicate a fairly recent widening of this crack. This crack may or may not of had its genesis on the speed of the bow crashing onto the ocean floor in 1912-however, it is apparent to me that the later parts of the crack, as distinguished by the most distal point from the beginning of the crack-are relatively new ( within a few years). The size of this crack is wide enough to easily provide an ROV access to the most inner spaces of the bow. Although last year's expedition (2004) that produced a photomosiac of the deterioration has much merit, what is very important to realize is the exponential degradation that is going on could be lost purely on looking at photos from 1986 and comparing it to the present. It is only by looking at the photos taken year after year that the exponential deterioration can be illustrated. Although it is revealing itself on Titanic, the problem of overfishing the Grand Banks is a reality that we need to address immediately.