First Full-Size, Digital Scan of the Titanic Yields Spectacular Imagery

A comprehensive digital scan of the Titanic, resting 3,800m below the Atlantic, has been generated through deep-sea mapping. The 3D model offers an unprecedented view of the entire ship — as if the surrounding water was removed — and could provide fresh insights into the circumstances of the 1912 disaster.

Over 1,500 lives were lost when the Titanic hit an iceberg on its inaugural journey from Southampton to New York, and there are still unanswered questions about the ship. The 3D scan is a significant step towards evidence-based research of exactly what happened when the Titanic sunk.

Despite extensive exploration since the wreck's discovery in 1985, the Titanic's vast size and deep-sea location have limited visibility to partial glimpses. The new scan, however, presents a complete view of the wreck, including the bow and stern, separated by 800m, and the surrounding debris field.