Back in 2005, I wrote to David Bright, who was the president of the Nautical Research Group. I asked him specifically about Titanic's nameplates and whether they were still visible. His reply is below. Sadly, David succumbed to decompression sickness in 2006 while diving the SS Andrea Doria wreck. He was 49. The colleague he mentioned below, Titanic diver Ralph White, passed away in 2008 at the age of 66.
David's reply to me in 2005:
"As for the lettering on the nameplate question on the Titanic - the rusticle formation is so dense in the areas of the nameplates, it has obscured the visible letters on both the bow and stern. Since my immediate study deals with the microbial decay of the ship, I can tell you that I have extensively filmed all areas where the nameplate is and the growth is too thick to see the names. Since we were not touching the ship, there was no efforts on our part to "brush" off the rusticles to thoroughly look for the nameplate-but I am absolutely convinced that the complete nameplate is there underneath this massive growth.
"The reason why I believe that the nameplates are there is because a friend and fellow Titanic diver, Ralph White, who has over 30 dives down to Titanic, did brush off the nameplate area in the late 1980's and photographed several of the letters. While out on Titanic this summer, Ralph showed me his pictures and the letters were very clear and legible after his mild scrubbing of the rusticles. I hope that this answers your question."
David A. Bright
President
Nautical Research Group, Inc."
David's reply to me in 2005:
"As for the lettering on the nameplate question on the Titanic - the rusticle formation is so dense in the areas of the nameplates, it has obscured the visible letters on both the bow and stern. Since my immediate study deals with the microbial decay of the ship, I can tell you that I have extensively filmed all areas where the nameplate is and the growth is too thick to see the names. Since we were not touching the ship, there was no efforts on our part to "brush" off the rusticles to thoroughly look for the nameplate-but I am absolutely convinced that the complete nameplate is there underneath this massive growth.
"The reason why I believe that the nameplates are there is because a friend and fellow Titanic diver, Ralph White, who has over 30 dives down to Titanic, did brush off the nameplate area in the late 1980's and photographed several of the letters. While out on Titanic this summer, Ralph showed me his pictures and the letters were very clear and legible after his mild scrubbing of the rusticles. I hope that this answers your question."
David A. Bright
President
Nautical Research Group, Inc."
I wonder, is there another, more "official" or acceptable term among seafarers that describes this engraved area of the ship other than, "name plate?"