A new, detailed 3D scan of the Titanic wreck has provided fresh insights into the ship's tragic final hours after it struck an iceberg in 1912. The scan, which created a digital replica of the Titanic from over 700,000 underwater images, shows the ship’s bow sitting upright on the ocean floor, while the stern lies heavily damaged after the ship broke apart.
One of the significant discoveries is the confirmation of survivor accounts that engineers worked until the very end to keep the ship’s lights on. The scan shows an open steam valve in the rear of the bow, suggesting the boilers were still operating as the ship sank. This helped the crew launch lifeboats in some light instead of complete darkness.
The scan also shows the Titanic’s hull with a broken porthole, believed to have been caused by the iceberg, supporting reports of ice flooding into cabins. A new computer simulation has also revealed how the iceberg created a series of small holes along the hull. These punctures flooded multiple compartments, which contributed to the ship’s sinking.
Despite providing new information, the scan doesn’t reveal all the damage. The lower part of the bow is still hidden under the ocean floor sediment. However, the scan has given researchers a valuable tool to study the wreck in a way that wasn’t possible before.
Personal items from passengers are still scattered across the ocean floor, adding a somber reminder of the lives lost. As experts continue to analyze the 3D scan, new details about the Titanic's final moments will continue to emerge.
Source: BBC