Artifacts Salvaged from the Titanic’s Counterpart Vessel, HMHS Britannic
Hellenic authorities disclosed the recovery of historical items from the sunken remains of the Britannic, more than a century after the vessel was lost in the Aegean waters by a German mine.
The recovery effort was carried out in recent months but revealed on Monday, when the heritage agency published details about the items retrieved.
An team of eleven skilled divers using closed-circuit equipment conducted the recovery, which was organized by a historical researcher.
Included in the items retrieved were the ship's lookout bell, a ship lamp, optical equipment, porcelain pieces from Turkish baths, and furnishings from first- and second-class cabins.
The recovered objects were secured in protective cases and immediately cleaned of sea deposits.
They were then transferred to the laboratories of the underwater heritage agency in the city, where preservation efforts will take place.
Certain artifacts identified in the initial mission were unable to be salvaged due to their state and underwater position.
They will eventually go on show at the upcoming maritime museum in the port city, within a section focusing on World War One.
This historic vessel was the third of the shipping company’s Olympic class of steamships, which included the ill-fated Titanic and RMS Olympic.
Britannic was requisitioned by the British navy during the conflict to serve as a medical vessel.
On that fateful day, it struck a naval mine off the Aegean island and sank in less than an hour.
Out of 1,065 people aboard, 30 lost their lives when escape vessels were drawn toward the ship's propellers.
