Salvage company plans seventh Titanic dive

NORFOLK -- The company that has exclusive rights to salvage the Titanic wants to make another expedition to the world's most famous shipwreck next year.

RMS Titanic Inc.'s expedition would be the first by the company since 2004.The company went before a judge yesterday to seek a salvage award for its past expeditions, and to inform the court of its plans.

"Obviously we have an interest in going back to shipwreck for a number of reasons, but we want to do it with the blessing of the court," Christopher Davino, president and CEO of RMS Titanic, said after the first of four days of hearings in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.

The hearings are not only intended to determine a salvage award, but also to establish legal guarantees that thousands of artifacts remain intact as a collection and forever accessible to the public.