First-ever 3D scans of the Titanic reveal what James Cameron got wrong in iconic movie

The first-ever 3D scan of the Titanic has revealed some new information about the infamous ship.

While it's been over 100 years since RMS Titanic sunk, her story still remains somewhat of a mystery, with new information about the vessel constantly being uncovered.

On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic sunk in the North Atlantic Ocean four days into her maiden voyage from Southhampton, England, with the end destination of New York, US.

The ship had around 2,224 people onboard when she struck an iceberg at 11.40pm and ended up sinking to her final resting place - 12,500ft underwater.

In a brand new development, National Geographic and Atlantic Productions have worked together to produce a new documentary titled Titanic: The Digital Resurrection, which reveals the results of scans carried out on the wreckage.

Back in 2022, over a period of three weeks, a company named Magellan sent two underwater robots down to the wreckage of the Titanic to take some images.

The robots returned with a staggering 715,000 images, with National Geographic reporting it as 'the largest underwater 3D scan ever made', amounting to 16 terabytes of data.

Alongside special mapping technology, the images revealed a digital model which has allowed scientists to unearth more information about the ship, including a detail which is explored in the iconic Titanic movie.

You can see the 'full-scale digital twin' in Titanic: The Digital Resurrection (YouTube/ National Geographic)

(National Geographic)

In fact, this particular detail is now believed to have been incorrectly interpreted in the film, with some new potential evidence disproving a rumor that began circulating after the disaster.

In the 1997 James Cameron movie, First Officer William Murdoch - who first spots the iceberg - is depicted as abandoning his responsibilities, taking a bribe and even shooting a passenger.

But actually, in the new documentary, analyst Parks Stephenson has explained that information emerging from the scans showed that a type of crane called a davit was actually in position at Murdoch's station. This suggests that the crane was erected in order to release another lifeboat as the ship was sinking.

This narrative supports witness testimony that Murdoch was swept away as he launched the boat into the water.

"This davit is in the up position, meaning its crew is basically trying to get a lifeboat ready to be launched," said Stephenson.

"This coincides with Second Officer Lightoller's description.

Officer Murdoch in the 1997 movie (CBS via Getty Images)

"This davit right here stands in mute testimony that supports Lightoller's version of events because being in the up position is exactly what Lightoller described."

Lightoller had claimed that he saw Murdoch being swept away by a wave.

However, rumours that Murdoch had shot a passenger emerged when a number of survivors saw an officer shoot men who were running towards a boat.

Titanic: The Digital Resurrection is currently set for release on Friday (April 11) on National Geographic or stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.