2005 Cameron expedition

[Parks Stephenson]

There's two aspects to James Cameron's current Titanic project...his last expedition to the wreck and the Discovery Channel show that will document his findings. I have already established a thread in the "Titanic on TV" topic to discuss the television portion...I will establish this thread to discuss the expedition itself.

I am currently onboard the Keldysh in St. Johns harbour. Tonight, we set sail for the wrecksite. Over the next two weeks, we will be trying to explore deeper inside the bow section of the wreck than has ever before been attempted.

If I can maintain my Internet connection, I'll try to post updates here. Of course, I can only provide information that is approved for release. I expect that the most important finds will be kept confidential until after the telecast, but I'll share what I can. I am also going to ask if we can entertain questions from people in the forum.

I am very excited about this expedition. Jim's goals are higher than they've ever been. We have an aggressive dive schedule and even if we are unable to access all the targets, I believe that we have a good chance of bringing back a wealth of new information.

So, keep your fingers crossed for us.

Parks

 

[Thorsten Totzke]

Hi Parks!

When the keldysh go out tonight it is the start for the tourist dive 2005 from Deep Ocean Expeditions? After this there start the Cameron Expeditions and after them there is the Privat-Tourist-tour from Familiy Harris

i have at the moment the following Dates:

06.07.2005 - 18.07.2005 - Deep Ocean Expeditions
19.07.2005 - 29.07.2005 - James Cameron
01.08.2005 - 14.08.2005 - Family Harris

are there any changes you know from? Because i have an list wit all Expedition Dates until today on www.lostliners.de (sorry only in german) and it where great if i can make the new expeditions with accurate dates...


best regards from germany

Thorsten
www.LostLiners.de - www.WhiteStarLine.de - www.Titanic-Experten.de

 

[Tarn Stephanos]

Keep us posted when you can Parks-
I have every expectation you will see some amazing sights down Scotland Road...

I just hope the swimming pool is accessable..
regards


tarn Stephanos

 

[Parks Stephenson]

Thorsten,

The Cameron expedition is in two parts:

24 June - 7 July
19 - 27 July

These dates are subject to change, but that's what I know at the moment.

Parks

 

[Thorsten Totzke]

Thank you Parks for the Info!

I have changed our Site so we are acurate at the moment

Mike Cameron told me some weeks ago that his brother use on this Expedition two ROV`s called "X-Box". Can you give use more informations about them in the next time? How deep can say go into the wreck?

 

[Denise A. Hunyadi]

Parks,

All my fingers--and toes--are crossed for you and everyone else involved in this expedition!

I envy you...

Denise

 

[John Clifford]

Parks, I am truly looking forward to hearing all about the Expedition.

Best wishes to all involved on this trip, especially James, Ken, and Don.

Now I just wish we could devise a way to get members JT & TS to the ship, short of something that would "land the Mayor of Toronto in hot water, big time".

 

[Dan Cherry]

Parks,
I am pleased to hear you secured a bunk on this expedition - best wishes to you, mate - have fun and I look forward to seeing the results of Titanic '05.

 

[Mark Draper]

I am curious about the ongoing decay of the wreck. I'd like to know how much more the wreck has collapsed.

 

[Tarn Stephanos]

The swimming bath is one target I am interested to see- but given the fact that room really had little decor of mention, I cant imagine much would remain- no doubt the pool is filled to the rim with sediment and disolved rusticles.....

The Turkish Bath is the one target that lingers in all of our minds- teak wood up on the boatdeck survived- so the teak in the Turkish Bath- which is in a protected area deep within Titanic- must be sound...
The Turkish Bath seemed divided into several rooms- i understand- at least on Olympic, there was a marble fountain...Would this have been in one of the cooling rooms? Given its weight, Hopefully Titanic's fountain is in its original spot..

There seems to be so much to see on Scotland Road....any particular room off Scotland Road that stands out as a favorite target?

Parks, after this expedition,I hope you and Ken can pen an account as detailed as Ken's 2001 writeup, covering every detail of what was seen.....

Thanks

Tarn Stephanos

 

[Mark Draper]

Yep, that'd be interesting to see the new stuff. I also wonder if Ken will make any new sketches/ map drawings of the wreck in it's present form?

 

[Martha Fasoulas]

Dear Parks,

Warm wishes from Australia to the whole team (Jim, Mike, Ken, Don and many more) to make the most successful Titanic dives in history! May the seas be calm for you and our thoughts are all with you during this exciting time

This is a big dream come true for you Parks, and you deserve it.

Take care!
Martha

 

[Inger Sheil]

Dispatches from the front as well as a comprehensive write up would be very welcome, Parks! I appreciate the need to do this within the constraints of the expedition...it's that mix of professionalim and passion for the subject that we appreciate in you.

 

[Tarn Stephanos]

Methinks the Mir & Keldysh crew will be extra busy this summer , as they will be accomidating the Cameron/Discovery expedition, as well as the Deep Ocean Expeditions dives for the paying public.
I think RMS Titanic is going back out to the Titanic site recover knick knacks and bricabrack, but I don't think they will be using any manned subs..perhaps an unmanned scoop of some kind...

Reveal only what you can about this dive Parks, and when you can.
As I mentioned in the past, I do hope there can be a new addition of the "Ghosts Of The Abyss" book with pictures from this dive. Coverage in the Titanic Commutator would be nice, but I have many fingers crossed for a book.

I know last time around many of the B deck cabins that had been photographed by Harland and Wolff for promotional purposes are now either beyond the edge where the decks collapse, or blocked by dangling cables....
Hopefully somehow you can grab a a detailed peek of some of the cabins that could not be viewed in 2001.

I can only imagine the excitement you must be feeling, you are living my dream. Just cherish the moment, because I have a hunch this expedition may prove one of the most rewarding experinces of your life.

Have fun Parks, and my best wishes to you, Ken, Ralph, Jim, Mike and the whole team...!


Regards

Tarn Stephanos

 

[Parks Stephenson]

We just arrived above the Titanic wrecksite and have turned the ship to a course where the radar dome does not block the satellite antenna. The Keldysh will try and keep from masking the satellite antenna, so hopefully my Internet connection will stay up.

The sky is overcast but the sea is relatively mild. We are expecting to launch the first dive tomorrow morning. I will be in Mission Control as Jim revisits the Marconi Room, among other targets. This first dive is intended mainly to prep the wreck and our archaeological team to more intense exploration during the following dives. Jim will probe various avenues for accessing the more difficult targets.

I can't discuss specific targets -- with the exception of the easily-reached Marconi Room -- because I don't want to raise hopes on targets that prove impossible to reach, but rest assured that we're not taking any easy ways out. We have an aggressive dive schedule in place.

I'm told that we may lose the Internet connection again as we conduct boat drills, so I'll sign of for now.