Shattering reminder

"For years, life had been about progress and the advances of technology, a straight line graph of the upward curve of man's superiority, but the sinking of the Titanic, and the way the news spread, shattered that and reminded people that we live in a chaotic world, shortly before everything was turned on its head by WWI," Maltin said.

Every so often, a new film or incident, such as the recent submersible tragedy, brings the story to the attention of a new generation, and more than a century after its dramatic death, breathes new life into the ship.

Something else that stirred up interest is the latest photo scans, which Maltin said is "like taking the water away … it's so dark down there, the best thing you can do is taking loads of photos and stitch them together, and this is the ultimate photo stitch".

"It's the best record we have of the exterior of the wreck."

The only way for people to see the wreck of the Titanic more clearly would be for it to be raised — and Maltin said this is not beyond the bounds of credibility.

"I would leave the stern as a memorial, as that's where most people died, but I think raising the bow is very feasible. It's strong enough and there is technology used for moving oil rigs, which could be deployed. I would love to see it on the slipway in Belfast where she was built," he said.

"Raising her would probably cost less than the budget of the next blockbuster film about the sinking, and it would be a wonder of the world, the biggest tourist attraction imaginable.

"In some ways, the sinking of the Titanic was the making of it — its sister ship, the Olympic, only lasted until the mid-1930s before it was scrapped, but by dying on its maiden voyage, the Titanic became immortal. And if they could lift the stern up, can you imagine it being put on a barge and taken to arrive in New York, more than 100 years late? It would be the news story of the millennium."

julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com