A significant exhibition dedicated to the Titanic has opened in Paris, showcasing a collection of objects retrieved from the ship’s wreckage by a French deep-sea explorer who tragically lost his life during a submersible accident last month.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet, affectionately known as “Mr. Titanic,” was part of a five-person crew aboard the Titan tourist sub when it lost contact with the surface during a dive to the wreck in mid-June.
The exhibition in Paris is a testament to Nargeolet’s tireless efforts, ingenuity, and passion, according to producer Pascal Bernardin. Nargeolet, who had been expected to attend the opening, played a significant role in recovering many of the 260 objects on display, including navigation instruments, ship fragments, watches, and jewelry belonging to the Titanic’s passengers.
Running from July 18 to September 10, the exhibition begins with a large-scale model of the iconic ship. Visitors are taken on a journey through the Titanic’s departure from England in April 1912, its tragic sinking following an iceberg collision, and the recreation of its cabins, grand staircase, and even the atmosphere of the engine room.
The Titanic’s wreck, discovered in 1985 by a joint French-American expedition, lies nearly four kilometers underwater off the coast of Newfoundland. Nargeolet had been involved in six of the eight exploration missions to the wreck between 1987 and 2010, which yielded over 5,000 retrieved objects.
The submersible involved in the recent accident, Titan, operated by US-based OceanGate, has suspended all activities indefinitely. The cause of the tragedy is under investigation by the US Coast Guard and Canadian authorities.