This is our series of supplemental logs that were taken from our scientific research expedition to RMS Titanic earlier last month. I hope that you enjoy!
It is at this point in our dive where our photometric studies begin. Nautical Research Group is looking at the morphological changes in the structural integrity of Titanic by use of photo and video comparisons of Titanic's features throughout the period since she was discovered in 1985 until the present. It is by subjectively comparing these morphological changes over time, that scientists and laymen can assess the deterioration of Titanic. The objective of our study is to capture as much photo and video footage of Titanic without touching, entering, disturbing or salvaging of any portions of the ship. We will treat the wreck as a grave site with the utmost respect and dignity that it deserves.
The MIR submersible has three windows for viewing sites on the wreck. The main window that the pilot uses to navigate the MIR is only seven inches in diameter; whereas the starboard and port windows are offset from the center window and are only five and one-half inches in diameter. We will be shooting our photos and video through these three windows. Additionally, MIR II is equipped with a high-definition camera that is mounted on one of the submersible's robotic arms. These cameras were placed on the MIR by James Cameron for the expressed purpose of supporting his July 24th Discovery Channel live broadcast and our pilot, Genya Cherniev will be testing this camera throughout our dive.
As we hug the ocean floor, the huge steel prow of the Titanic comes into view. All around the bottom of this sleek bow is the remnants of long-decayed and fallen rusticles. As you look at the port side of the bow, we can see the massive anchor that is just above the sandy bottom. More than two-thirds of the bow is buried into the ocean bottom through the intense speed that the water-filled bow landed during the sinking on April 15, 1912. The anchor is starting to "bleed" through the effects of microbial decay and it looks like the anchor is literally starting to melt away. As we proceed forward of the anchor, we come up to deck-level and see the beautiful bow sprit where Leonardo proclaimed "I am the king of the world". This view is the most photographed portion of Titanic and it is incredible. I had an opportunity to extensively film this portion of the bow with special emphasis on the formation of a rusticle "beard" that has developed below the bow sprit. Two beautiful soft corals are growing on the railing about the bow sprit and make for a very surrealistic scene. Overall, there is little change that can be visually observed and detected in Titanic's physical structure on this bow sprit area from the time the ship was discovered.
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