New Titanic Expedition Faces Opposition over Possible Human Remains
2020-10-26
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1People have been diving down to the Titanic's wreckage for around 35 years.
2But so far, no one has found human remains, the company that owns rights to the wreckage says.
3Now the company, RMS Titanic Inc., is planning for a new expedition that is raising concerns.
4It wants to send a team to collect the ship's famous radio equipment and prepare it to be shown in public.
5But some are questioning the plan, saying the world's most famous shipwreck could still hold remains of passengers and crew.
6The disagreement is part of a larger debate over how the Titanic's victims should be remembered, honored and respected.
7The Titanic was traveling from England to New York in 1912 when it hit an iceberg.
8It sank in the North Atlantic. Over 1,500 people died in the disaster.
9The wreck was discovered in 1985.
10RMS Titanic Inc. owns the salvage rights, or rights to what is left, of the Titanic.
11The company is the court-recognized caretaker of objects from the Titanic.
12It oversees thousands of items including silverware, china and gold coins.
13The company wants to exhibit, or publicly show, the ship's Marconi wireless telegraph machine.
14The telegraph broadcast the ship's emergency calls, which helped save the lives of hundreds of people in lifeboats.
15Lawyers for the U.S. government are taking part in a court battle to block the planned dive.
16They point to experts who say human remains could still be there.
17And they say the company fails to consider that possibility in its dive plan.
18Paul Johnston is an expert at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
19"Fifteen hundred people died in that wreck," he told The Associated Press.
20"You can't possibly tell me that some human remains aren't buried deep somewhere where there are no currents."
21Current is a term that means a continuous movement of water or air.
22An unmanned submersible, a kind of underwater vehicle, would need to enter the wreckage to bring back the telegraph machine.
23A special tool would be used to remove loose dirt and sand, while robotic arms would cut electrical connections.
24Over the years, explorers have sent other unmanned vehicles into parts of the ship.
25During his 2001 expedition, film director James Cameron examined the area that holds the telegraph equipment, according to court documents filed by the company.
26RMS Titanic Inc. says any existing human remains would likely have been seen after around 200 dives.
27David Gallo is an oceanographer and company adviser.
28"There's an unwritten rule that, should we see human remains, we turn off the cameras and decide what to do next," Gallo said.
29But he added that the remains of those who died likely disappeared decades ago.
30In May, a federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia, approved the expedition.
31But the U.S. government brought a legal case in June to stop it, claiming the plan would violate federal law and an agreement with Britain.
32The agreement recognizes the wreck as a memorial site. U.S. lawyers argue the agreement restricts entry into the wreck.
33The restriction aims to make sure that the hull, artifacts and "any human remains" are undisturbed.
34The president of RMS Titanic Inc., Bretton Hunchak, told the AP the government's position is based on emotion rather than science.
35"Issues like this are used simply to raise public support," Hunchak said.
36"This company has always treated the wreck ... with reverence and respect," Hunchak added.
37"And that doesn't change whether in fact human remains could possibly exist."
38Archaeologists who filed court statements supporting the government's case said they believe there must be human remains.
39They have questioned those refusing to accept that possibility.
40The Smithsonian's Johnston wrote to the court that remains could still be found in some areas lacking oxygen.
41But he said the company does not want "anyone to be thinking about human remains.
42They want people to think, 'Oh cool. I have new artifacts to show the public.'"
43I'm John Russell.
1People have been diving down to the Titanic's wreckage for around 35 years. But so far, no one has found human remains, the company that owns rights to the wreckage says. 2Now the company, RMS Titanic Inc., is planning for a new expedition that is raising concerns. It wants to send a team to collect the ship's famous radio equipment and prepare it to be shown in public. But some are questioning the plan, saying the world's most famous shipwreck could still hold remains of passengers and crew. 3The disagreement is part of a larger debate over how the Titanic's victims should be remembered, honored and respected. 4Background 5The Titanic was traveling from England to New York in 1912 when it hit an iceberg. It sank in the North Atlantic. Over 1,500 people died in the disaster. The wreck was discovered in 1985. 6RMS Titanic Inc. owns the salvage rights, or rights to what is left, of the Titanic. The company is the court-recognized caretaker of objects from the Titanic. It oversees thousands of items including silverware, china and gold coins. 7The company wants to exhibit, or publicly show, the ship's Marconi wireless telegraph machine. The telegraph broadcast the ship's emergency calls, which helped save the lives of hundreds of people in lifeboats. 8Court case 9Lawyers for the U.S. government are taking part in a court battle to block the planned dive. They point to experts who say human remains could still be there. And they say the company fails to consider that possibility in its dive plan. 10Paul Johnston is an expert at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. "Fifteen hundred people died in that wreck," he told The Associated Press. "You can't possibly tell me that some human remains aren't buried deep somewhere where there are no currents." 11Current is a term that means a continuous movement of water or air. 12An unmanned submersible, a kind of underwater vehicle, would need to enter the wreckage to bring back the telegraph machine. A special tool would be used to remove loose dirt and sand, while robotic arms would cut electrical connections. 13Over the years, explorers have sent other unmanned vehicles into parts of the ship. During his 2001 expedition, film director James Cameron examined the area that holds the telegraph equipment, according to court documents filed by the company. 14RMS Titanic Inc. says any existing human remains would likely have been seen after around 200 dives. 15David Gallo is an oceanographer and company adviser. "There's an unwritten rule that, should we see human remains, we turn off the cameras and decide what to do next," Gallo said. But he added that the remains of those who died likely disappeared decades ago. 16In May, a federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia, approved the expedition. 17But the U.S. government brought a legal case in June to stop it, claiming the plan would violate federal law and an agreement with Britain. The agreement recognizes the wreck as a memorial site. U.S. lawyers argue the agreement restricts entry into the wreck. The restriction aims to make sure that the hull, artifacts and "any human remains" are undisturbed. 18The president of RMS Titanic Inc., Bretton Hunchak, told the AP the government's position is based on emotion rather than science. "Issues like this are used simply to raise public support," Hunchak said. 19"This company has always treated the wreck ... with reverence and respect," Hunchak added. "And that doesn't change whether in fact human remains could possibly exist." 20Archaeologists who filed court statements supporting the government's case said they believe there must be human remains. They have questioned those refusing to accept that possibility. 21The Smithsonian's Johnston wrote to the court that remains could still be found in some areas lacking oxygen. But he said the company does not want "anyone to be thinking about human remains. They want people to think, 'Oh cool. I have new artifacts to show the public.'" 22I'm John Russell. 23Ben Finley reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 24_____________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26iceberg - n. a very large piece of ice floating in the ocean 27expedition - n. a journey especially by a group of people for a specific purpose (such as to explore a distant place or to do research) 28hull - n. the main part of a ship or boat : the deck, sides, and bottom of a ship or boat 29undisturbed - adj. not interrupted or changed in any way 30reverence - n. honor or respect that is felt for or shown to (someone or something) 31archaeologist - n. : an expert in a science that deals with past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people 32artifact - n. an object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.