Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan has come to an agreement with US businessman Gregg Bemis to allow an investigation at the site of the RMS Lusitania wreckage 13 miles off the coast of Cork.

The Irish Times reports that Minister Deenihan has endorsed plans to begin a broad set of exploration objectives with US businessman Gregg Bemis, who owns the rights to the wreck.

“A general agreement on the objectives of further research planned by Mr Bemis was endorsed by both parties,” a statement from Deenihan’s department said.

The RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-Boat a few miles out from the Old Head of Kinsale, Cork in 1915. The ship sank in 18 minutes, and claimed 1,198 lives.