Almost a century after it steamed to the rescue of the stricken Titanic, saving the lives of more than 700 stranded passengers, and 89 years after it was sunk, the wreckage of the RMS Carpathia has finally been explored, yielding precious artefacts.

An amateur dive team performed a record-breaking feat of underwater archaeology to salvage objects such as the telegraph machine used on the liner to communicate between the bridge and the engine room. They also brought up crockery bearing the insignia of the ship. The divers' haul has been handed over to the owners of the wreck of the Titanic, and will be included in a touring exhibition that will visit London next year.