Title: Submersible on Titanic Wreckage Tour Reported Overdue, Coast Guard Launches Search Effort
Date: June 21, 2023
A submersible operated by OceanGate Inc. has been reported overdue during a tour of the wreckage of the Titanic, prompting a search effort by the Coast Guard. The 22-foot, 23,000-pound vessel, named the Titan, was carrying five crew members and is designed with life support systems capable of sustaining them for 96 hours. The Coast Guard has emphasized the urgency of rescuing the submersible within three days to ensure the safety of the passengers.
OceanGate Inc., founded by Stockton Rush in 2009, aims to make deep-ocean exploration more accessible to scientists and tourists. Over the years, the company has conducted more than 200 dives and developed three submersible designs. The Titan, constructed primarily of lightweight carbon fiber and titanium, is the only submersible capable of reaching the depths where the Titanic rests, approximately 12,400 feet below the surface.
The vessel features a rigid carbon-fiber body with two titanium caps, one of which includes a thick transparent porthole. With dimensions of nine feet wide and eight feet tall, the Titan provides limited space for its passengers, who sit on a subfloor inside the carbon-fiber tube. Equipped with four electric thrusters, the submersible can move through the water at a speed of approximately 3 mph. It also boasts an integrated real-time health monitoring system to ensure structural integrity during expeditions.
OceanGate partnered with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the University of Washington, and Boeing to design the hull of the Titan. The vessel underwent a validation dive in December 2018, with Stockton Rush personally piloting it to a depth of 4,000 meters in 7 hours, pausing multiple times to assess its integrity.
The search and rescue operation for the missing submersible present unique challenges. Retired Navy submarine commander David Marquet has highlighted that if the submersible is floating on the ocean’s surface after a malfunction, rescuers would need to locate it within three days to provide fresh oxygen to the passengers by unbolting its titanium hatch. However, if the craft is still submerged, the search effort becomes more complex, requiring the location and extraction of the submersible from the ocean depths.
The depth capabilities of the Titan pose additional challenges, as most submarines, including those used for rescue operations, cannot reach the depths that the Titan can. This complicates the search and rescue process.
OceanGate Inc. has confirmed the loss of contact with the submersible and is actively exploring all options to ensure the safe return of the crewmembers. The company’s focus remains on the well-being of the crewmembers and their families.
As the search effort continues, authorities and experts are working tirelessly to locate and rescue the missing submersible and its crew, hoping for a successful outcome in this challenging situation.
How is OceanGate Inc. assisting in the search effort for the missing submersible and ensuring the safety of its crew members
Ht feet tall, the Titan is equipped with powerful LED lights, sonar imaging systems, and robotic arms for collecting samples and conducting research.
The tour of the Titanic wreckage began on June 19, 2023, with the submersible descending to the ocean floor. However, after a few hours, communication with the vessel was lost, and it failed to resurface at the scheduled time. Concerned for the safety of the crew members, OceanGate Inc. alerted the Coast Guard, who immediately launched a search effort.
The Coast Guard vessels, along with specialized search and rescue teams, are conducting an extensive search operation in the area where the Titanic sank. The priority is to locate and rescue the missing submersible and its crew members. Time is of the essence, as the crew’s life support systems are designed to last only 96 hours.
OceanGate Inc. has expressed its full cooperation with the Coast Guard and is providing any necessary information and assistance to aid in the search effort. The company’s primary focus is on the safety of its crew members and recovering the submersible.
The Titanic wreckage is located in a remote and challenging environment, making search and rescue operations particularly complex. However, the Coast Guard is utilizing advanced technology and expertise to locate the missing submersible. They are working diligently to gather information, analyze data, and explore all options to ensure a successful search and rescue mission.
It is crucial for the search effort to continue with determination and urgency. The families of the missing crew members, as well as OceanGate Inc. and the Coast Guard, are relying on the expertise and resources available to locate and rescue the submersible from the depths of the ocean.
As of the current date, June 21, 2023, the search efforts are still ongoing, and updates on the situation will be provided as they become available. The Coast Guard remains committed to doing everything possible to bring the crew members safely back to the surface and recover the Titan submersible.
I hope and pray for the safe rescue of the five individuals aboard the missing submersible off the coast of Newfoundland. May the search and rescue teams find them swiftly and bring them back to their loved ones.