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Expedition to the tragic ship Carpathia |
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Plymouth
diver Richard Stevenson
Photos: Deep Blue Diving |
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An
exploration team led by Plymouth diver Richard Stevenson is hoping
to bring back the first ever video footage from the wreck of the ship
Carpathia - which rescued more than 700 survivors from the Titanic. |
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The Carpathia's
story is a sad but remarkable one. She will always be known as the
ship which went to the aid of the Titanic's passengers, and picked
up 705 survivors.
Without RMS Carpathia and her skipper, Captain Arthur Rostron, there
would have been no survivors from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.
Tragically, the Carpathia was herself sunk just six years later, sent
to the bottom of the sea by a German U-boat in July 1918. Five people
were killed in the torpedo attack.
The sinking came only 15 years after the Cunard liner embarked on
her maiden voyage in 1903.
Her wreck lies in deep Atlantic waters at more than 500ft, some 160
miles off the south east coast of Ireland and 300 miles west of Plymouth.
The
site was discovered by American divers five years ago.
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| The
team will be heading off to the wreck site on board Deep Blue
Diving's boat, Loyal Watcher |
Then,
in 2001, a team of divers led by Richard Stevenson of Plymouth-based
Deep Blue Diving managed to reach the wreck and retrieve some small
items.
But due to technical reasons, it was not possible to bring back video
footage of the wreck.
Now, Richard is returning to the site in a 13-man team, to hopefully
capture the world's most famous rescue ship on film.
The team leaves Plymouth on Saturday 10th July for the 11-day dive.
The aim is to explore and document the ship, and locate historical
items.
The mission is being backed by RMS Titanic Inc, who own the wreck.
They're hoping the divers will be able to raise the Carpathia nameplate
from the bow, as well as a special cup awarded to the Carpathia and
her captain by the survivors of the Titanic.
Ground-breaking diver technology is needed for the dive, because of
the depth and position of the ship.
Richard, 34, has taken part in several high profile exploration dives
in the past 10 years and says this is an exciting venture.
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| Richard
Stevenson says it's an exciting venture |
"We're
all built up for it, and the exploration is well prepared - we're
now keeping our fingers crossed the weather will be okay.
"I wouldn't say it's dangerous because we are all experienced
divers. Having said that, we'll be 300 miles into the Atlantic."
There are nine divers and four support members in the team. Most are
from the UK, but there are also expert divers from Italy and South
Africa.
One of the divers, Carl Spencer, says this is the biggest diving expedition
of 2004: "It's pretty ambitious, and it's cutting edge stuff.
"We've got some of the best divers in the world, and we're really
hopeful of bringing back some documentary footage which would be amazing
because nobody's seen the Carpathia for 80-odd years.
"Next year is the 20th anniversary of the Titanic being discovered,
so this is well timed.
"The role of the Carpathia is often forgotten in the Titanic
story, so if we can help provide a new angle to the story, that would
be great."
Article published: 9th July 2004.
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