April 11, 2025 - More than a century after the Titanic sank, researchers have cleared First Officer William McMaster Murdoch of long-standing allegations that he abandoned the ship when it was struck by an iceberg. Until now, it was widely believed that Murdoch failed in his duties as the ship went down. However, a new 3D scan of the Titanic wreck reveals that Murdoch, who was 39 at the time of his death, did not abandon his responsibilities - in fact, he died while helping passengers in the final moments.

The breakthrough comes from a detailed exploration led by Magellan, a US-based company specialising in deep-sea exploration and mapping. The team captured more 715,000 images from 12,500 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean to create the most accurate 3D digital model of the wreck to date.

Titanic analyst Parks Stephenson explained that this large-scale digital model proves Murdoch’s innocence.

Scans show that the davit - a type of crane used on ships - at Officer Murdoch's station was getting ready to launch another lifeboat when the Titanic went under. According to testimony from surviving crew members, as Murdoch launched another batch of passengers to safety, he was carried away by a wave.

The 3D model shows Murdoch preparing to launch lifeboats as the ship sank. Crew member Charles Lightoller had also testified that Murdoch was trying to escort a group of passengers to safety before a powerful wave struck, leading to his death.

The RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that set sail on its maiden journey on April 10, 1912, from Southampton, England, bound for New York. It sank on April 15, with around 1,517 passengers and crew losing their lives.

Survivors of the Titanic had claimed they saw an officer shoot two men who were rushing toward a lifeboat, and then turn the gun on himself. Over the years, this unnamed officer was widely believed to be Murdoch. This portrayal was also featured in James Cameron’s film Titanic, reinforcing the belief that Murdoch took his own life amid panic.

The new findings challenge that version of events, suggesting instead that Murdoch acted bravely and responsibly until his final moments, offering a long-overdue correction to history.

Murdoch was serving as First Officer on board the RMS Titanic when it collided with an iceberg and for years, Officer Murdoch has been accused of taking bribes and abandoning his post.