Of all the 18,000 wreckages off Irish coasts, RMS Lusitania, 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, is the only shipwreck with a ministerial order declaring it of cultural and historical significance. The order was put in place when speculation began that Sir Hugh Lane brought valuable paintings on board including works by Rubens.
Bemis requested permission to recover certain objects from the wreckage so as to potentially prove his theory on the second explosion and confirm another theory that that an order for full steam ahead may also may have hastened the sinking timeframe. He rejects recent research claiming there is no evidence of a secret munitions cargo.
The entrepreneur wishes to dive and recover items such as the double-faced bridge telegraph, which potentially records the last instruction from Captain William Thomas Turner to the engine room after the torpedo strike; the triple chime steam whistle, known as the voice of the ship; and the captain’s safe.
Bemis welcomed the ministerial order when put in place as it would protect the wreck from thieves while allowing him to continue his own recovery project.
"The order has a purpose for the State. It also provides me with the supposed opportunity to do my research without being inhibited by a bunch coming and pirating stuff from the ship," he said.
"Piracy is obviously something of a concern, treasure hunters, and it's something that can happen.
"Ireland and Britain have an equal interest in not having that happen. We have no idea how much of that has gone on."
Speaking to RTÉ, Diver Eoin McGarry shares Bemis’ fears and claims that it is possible that valuable artifacts have already been stolen.
"We've been banging our heads off the wall for years and not getting anywhere with the officials. It's now the right time for the wider audience to hear about this," he said.
*Originally publlished April 2015