US Ends Lawsuit Against Titanic Salvage Company

The U.S. government has officially ended its legal battle against RMS Titanic Inc. (RMST), the company with salvage rights to the Titanic wreck, after RMST announced it would not conduct any expeditions in 2025 that might violate federal law. This decision follows RMST's scaling back of its plans to only take external images of the wreck, a change prompted by the tragic 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible, which resulted in the death of RMST's director of underwater research, Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The U.S. had previously opposed RMST's attempts to enter the wreck's hull, citing violations of a 2017 federal law and an agreement with Great Britain that protect the site as a memorial. While the current litigation has concluded, the U.S. government maintains the option to file new legal challenges should RMST propose future salvage operations that could disturb the wreck. Experts have raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the Titanic, suggesting that time may be running out for salvage expeditions. Overall, RMST is carefully considering the legal and financial implications of any potential future activities related to the site.