The Great Ship fades away

Titanic is slowly disappearing under thick layers of biological growths called rusticles. The combined bulk of the rusticles are estimated at 650 tons. As the rusticle mass continues to multiply and more of the ship's iron is removed, Titanic has begun a gradual process of collapse. These illustrations predict the inevitable and tragic future of the great ocean liner.

These 4 sequential images estimate the condition of Titanic from research obtained during the 1986 and 1996 expeditions, and predict what she will look like in 2012 and 2112.

Microbiologist Dr. Roy Cullimore studies these rusticles and says " Ships that drown at sea will eventually become part of nature. Modern ships are made primarily of steel and nature has found ways to recycle the iron in that steel through living creatures."