Search Continues for Missing Submarine Exploring Titanic Wreck
June 20, 2023
The search for a missing submarine, the Titan, continues as authorities race against time to locate the vessel and its five passengers. The Titan sank to a depth of 3,800 meters in the Atlantic Ocean while on a mission to view the wreckage of the Titanic. The incident occurred approximately 450 miles from St. John’s, the largest city on the Canadian island of Newfoundland.
According to the Coast Guard, the remote area where the submarine disappeared poses challenges to the search efforts. U.S. Coast Guard Regional Commander John Mauger expressed the difficulties faced in searching the area. American and Canadian planes, along with the Coast Guard, are working tirelessly to find the submarine before the oxygen supply on board runs out.
OceanGate Expeditions, the company organizing tourist visits to the Titanic, is actively exploring all options to safely return the crew. Among the passengers on board is British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, as well as two members of a well-known Pakistani business family, Shahzada Dawood and his son.
The Titanic, which sank in 1912, lies more than 600 kilometers off the Canadian island of Newfoundland. The British passenger liner met its tragic fate on its maiden voyage when it struck an iceberg, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 passengers and crew. The wreckage of the ship was discovered in 1985.
Tourists have the opportunity to descend to the wreck as “mission specialists” in the Titan for a fee of approximately 228,000 euros. From a ship at the disaster site, passengers are transferred to the mini submarine and descend in two hours to explore the remains of the cruise ship. The Titanic was en route from Southampton to New York when disaster struck.
OceanGate has been conducting expeditions to the Titanic wreck, both for tourists and scientists, with this being their fifth expedition this year. The company aims to facilitate research on the Titanic and the deep ocean. The exact cause of the submarine’s disappearance is still unknown.
When contact with the Titan was lost, it had already been 1 hour and 45 minutes into its journey to the bottom of the ocean. The crew of the Canadian research icebreaker Polar Prince, which was supporting the submarine’s descent, suddenly lost communication with the occupants.
The submarine has an oxygen supply of 96 hours, providing the people on board with enough air for just under three days underwater. Efforts are underway to deploy a remote-controlled vehicle capable of reaching a depth of 6,000 meters to assist in the search and rescue operation.
OceanGate highlights the innovative use of materials and state-of-the-art technology in the development of the Titan. The company believes that the mini-submarine can also be utilized for scientific research into the seabed worldwide, making deep ocean exploration more accessible than ever before.
As the search continues, authorities remain hopeful for a successful rescue operation and the safe return of the missing submarine and its passengers.
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How have the expeditions to explore and document the Titanic wreckage provided valuable insights into the history and tragedy of the iconic ship
Its tragic fate after hitting an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Since then, the wreckage of the Titanic has captured the fascination of many, prompting explorations and expeditions to study and document the sunken ship.
In this case, the missing submarine, the Titan, was on a mission to explore the Titanic wreck when it lost contact with the surface boat, the Polar Prince. The Titan went missing at a depth of 3,800 meters in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 450 miles from St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Search and rescue efforts are underway, with ships, planes, and the U.S. Coast Guard involved in the operation. However, the remote area where the submarine disappeared poses challenges to the search. The search teams are racing against time to locate the submarine and its five passengers before their oxygen supply runs out.
OceanGate Expeditions, the company responsible for organizing tourist visits to the Titanic, is actively working to ensure the safe return of the crew. Among the passengers on board the missing submarine are British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, as well as Shahzada Dawood and his son, members of a well-known Pakistani business family.
The Titanic wreck, located more than 600 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland, continues to spark interest and curiosity. The efforts to explore and document the wreckage have provided valuable insights into the history and tragedy of the iconic ship.
As the search for the missing submarine continues, authorities and rescue teams remain committed to locating and rescuing the crew. The challenges posed by the remote location and the depth at which the submarine sank make the operation a race against time. Updates on the search efforts will be provided as they become available.
