Relics Recovered from Titanic's Counterpart Vessel, Britannic
Greece has announced the salvage of artifacts from the sunken remains of Titanic’s sister ship, more than a century after the vessel was destroyed in the Aegean Sea by a German mine.
The recovery effort was conducted in spring but revealed on this week, when the heritage agency released details about the artifacts.
An team of eleven professional deep-sea divers using advanced rebreathers conducted the mission, which was coordinated by a maritime expert.
Among the items retrieved were the vessel’s bell, a ship lamp, viewing glasses, ceramic tiles from onboard spa areas, and items from passenger cabins.
The recovered objects were secured in protective cases and promptly treated of marine organisms.
Afterward, they were moved to the research facilities of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in the Greek capital, where conservation work will continue.
Certain artifacts originally planned in the initial mission remained in place due to their condition and placement.
In time, they will go on display at the new National Museum of Underwater Antiquities in Piraeus, within a section dedicated to WWI.
This historic vessel was the third of the maritime firm’s prestigious liner class of passenger ships, along with the RMS Titanic and Olympic.
Britannic was requisitioned by the UK naval authorities during the Great War to operate as a medical vessel.
On that fateful day, it collided with a enemy mine off the Aegean island and sank in under 60 minutes.
Out of the passengers and crew present, 30 lost their lives when two lifeboats were pulled into the propeller mechanisms.
