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In November 1985 I was privileged to be able to attend a private showing of the first photographs taken of the wreck of Titanic given by its discoverer, Dr Robert Ballard, to the law firm that once represented White Star.
Twenty-five years ago, the dim and slightly fuzzy photographs of the Titanic, lying on the sea bed over two miles below the Atlantic, were jaw-dropping. Of course, since then a number of ‘expeditions’ have been down to the wreck and nearly 6,000 objects have been salvaged from it. The deteriorating wreck has also been visited by others who can look but not touch it.
In interviews afterwards, Dr Ballard said that he regretted not having claimed salvage rights because recovery of anything would have amounted to grave-robbing; had he done so then everything would have been protected. However, he did not and since then various organisations have laid claim in several courts and jurisdictions.
A US Court will shortly rule on the issue as to whether or not the artefacts recovered from Titanic should be sold through the court and the proceeds passed to the company which recovered them or, alternatively, whether the company should be given title to the objects.
In the end, as in so many other things, the issue to be decided boils down to money and, perhaps, that is a sad epithet for those who perished on that ill-fated voyage.
.
In November 1985 I was privileged to be able to attend a private showing of the first photographs taken of the wreck of Titanic given by its discoverer, Dr Robert Ballard, to the law firm that once represented White Star.
Twenty-five years ago, the dim and slightly fuzzy photographs of the Titanic, lying on the sea bed over two miles below the Atlantic, were jaw-dropping. Of course, since then a number of ‘expeditions’ have been down to the wreck and nearly 6,000 objects have been salvaged from it. The deteriorating wreck has also been visited by others who can look but not touch it.
In interviews afterwards, Dr Ballard said that he regretted not having claimed salvage rights because recovery of anything would have amounted to grave-robbing; had he done so then everything would have been protected. However, he did not and since then various organisations have laid claim in several courts and jurisdictions.
A US Court will shortly rule on the issue as to whether or not the artefacts recovered from Titanic should be sold through the court and the proceeds passed to the company which recovered them or, alternatively, whether the company should be given title to the objects.
In the end, as in so many other things, the issue to be decided boils down to money and, perhaps, that is a sad epithet for those who perished on that ill-fated voyage.
.
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