First Images of Sunken Andrea Doria Shipwreck Released

It has been called the "Mount Everest of Shipwrecks," claiming the lives of at least seven divers since 2005. Now, a company has embarked on a long-term exploration of the sunken vessel off the Nantucket coast.

The Andrea Doria, an Italian liner, was struck by another ship in 1956 about 70 miles southeast of Nantucket. Fifty-two people were killed. The ship came to rest about 240 feet below the surface.

Over the years, the wreck has proven a popular yet dangerous scuba diving attraction, claiming the lives of numerous divers who have tried to investigate.

On Monday, Seattle-based OceanGate released the first images of the legendary sunken ship, captured via closeup sonar imaging performed by a manned submersible vessel - the Cyclops 1.

“Five times more people have been to the top of Mt. Everest than have seen the Andrea Doria wreck site, so this expedition was a rare opportunity for our crew – all while expanding our knowledge of the ocean,” OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush said in a press release. 

The goal is to digitally assemble the sonar scans into a virtual model to help illustrate the full scope of the wreck and document its current condition. 

The images you see above are the result of 17 initial scans of the bow — fewer than were hoped, due to foggy conditions and rough seas, according to OceanGate.

>> Photos provided by OceanGate