First Titanic dive in 14 years shows ‘shocking’ deterioration of wreck

Fresh footage has revealed the rapidly deteriorating state of the RMS Titanic, in the first expedition to the wreck in 14 years.

An international team of deep-sea explorers surveyed the sunken ship, which lies 3,800 metres down in the Atlantic ocean.

A number of once prized sections the Olympic-class liner have been lost to sea, as salt corrosion and metal-eating bacteria gradually consume her remains.

Titanic historian Park Stephenson described the deterioration of the ship as "shocking,” as divers uncovered a partial collapse of the ship’s once-majestic hull.

"That whole deck hole on that side is collapsing, taking with it the staterooms, and the deterioration is going to continue advancing.

"The captain's bath tub is a favourite image among the Titanic enthusiasts, and that's now gone."

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Titanic wreck suffers hull collapse

The first ever ultra-high definition 4K quality images of the ship were captured during the latest expedition, which took place more than a century after the “unsinkable” liner fatally hit an iceberg.

They will be published alongside a documentary, which is being made by film company Atlantic Productions.

Viewers will also be able to explore the new footage of the wreckage using interactive virtual reality technology.

Explorer Victor Vescovo, who is also chief executive of exploration company Caladan Oceanic, said he "wasn't quite prepared" for how large the wreckage is.

"It was extraordinary to see it all,” he said.

“The most amazing moment came when I was going along the side of the Titanic and the bright lights of the submersible reflected off a portal and came right back - it was like the ship was winking at me.

"It was amazing."

The Titanic is "going to continue to deteriorate over time" as part of a natural process, according to scientist Lori Johnson.

Bacteria is acting like "a community working symbiotically to eat" the wreckage, she explained.

A total of five dives to the wreck, which lies around 370 miles south of Newfoundland in Canada, were made over eight days using a submergence vehicle.

The Titanic, built by Belfast's Harland and Wolff shipyard, sank after hitting an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,500 people.