Tragic End to Search for Submarine Near Titanic Wreck
The search for a submarine in the North Atlantic near the wreck of the Titanic has come to a devastating end. The operating company, Oceangate, announced on Thursday that the submarine had suffered a “catastrophic internal explosion” that resulted in the death of all five passengers on board. The search for the scientific tourist submarine had been underway since Sunday, covering a search area of 20,000 square kilometers on the surface of the water.
Oceangate released a statement expressing their belief that President Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood, his son Solomon, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henry Nargoleet had all tragically lost their lives. The US Coast Guard confirmed that the wreckage of the submarine showed evidence of a “catastrophic internal explosion.” British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly offered his support and condolences to the families of the departed.
Among the passengers on the submarine were wealthy British businessman Hamish Harding, French diver and former French naval officer Paul-Henri Nargolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzadeh Daoud and his son Suleiman. Each of them had paid $250,000 for the opportunity to see the wreckage of the Titanic, one of the biggest marine disasters of the twentieth century.
The search efforts involved the US and Canadian armies, who utilized air surveillance by C-130 OB-8 planes and ships equipped with submarine robots. The French research ship “Atlant” also arrived at the site with a Victor 6000 robot capable of diving to the wreckage of the Titanic.
The submarine, named “Titan,” had set off on its journey towards the depths on Sunday. It was scheduled to return to the surface in seven hours but contact was lost less than two hours after launch. The US Coast Guard had warned that there was only about 40 hours of breathable air on board the submarine.
As the search unfolded, details emerged regarding possible neglect in the safety of the tourist submarine. A complaint filed in 2018 revealed that a former director of the company, David Lockridge, was dismissed after raising concerns about the submarine’s safety. The former director stated that the vision porthole in the bow of the submarine was not designed to withstand the pressure at a depth of 4,000 meters.
The former director of marine operations also confirmed that the porthole at the front of the submarine was only designed to withstand pressure up to a depth of 1,300 meters. Complaint documents from 2018 showed that Lockridge was fired after expressing concerns about the safety of the submarine.
These concerns about the submarine’s safety were not new. Even before the submarine went into operation, the cruise tourism company received a letter from the Marine Technology Society (MTS) expressing concerns about a submarine project that had not been approved by an independent body.
In an interview with Smithsonian magazine in 2019, company president Stockton Rush criticized the industry’s obsession with safety, claiming that it led to stagnation in innovation. However, these safety concerns have now resulted in a tragic loss of life.
The incident has raised questions about the suitability of the submarine’s structure and materials. Michel Lorre, former head of the Underwater and Underwater Archaeological Research Department, expressed concerns about the cabin’s ability to withstand the pressure at the depth where the Titanic lies. Lorre also highlighted the size of the window, which is estimated at 60 cm, and its ability to withstand the pressure at a depth of 4,000 meters.
The search for the submarine near the Titanic wreck has ended in a heartbreaking tragedy. The investigation into the incident and the safety concerns surrounding the submarine will undoubtedly continue as authorities seek to prevent similar accidents in the future.
How did the search efforts involving the US and Canadian armed forces and submarine robots raise concerns about safety neglect regarding the tourist submarine
The search for a submarine near the Titanic wreck in the North Atlantic has ended in tragedy. Oceangate, the operating company, announced that the submarine experienced a devastating internal explosion, resulting in the death of all five passengers on board. The search, which covered a vast area of 20,000 square kilometers, had been ongoing since Sunday.
Oceangate expressed their belief that President Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood, his son Solomon, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henry Nargoleet had all tragically lost their lives. The US Coast Guard confirmed that the wreckage showed evidence of a catastrophic internal explosion. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly offered his support and condolences to the families of the victims.
Aboard the ill-fated submarine were wealthy British businessman Hamish Harding, French diver and former naval officer Paul-Henri Nargolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzadeh Daoud and his son Suleiman. Each had paid $250,000 for the chance to witness the wreckage of the Titanic, one of the greatest maritime tragedies in history.
The search efforts involved the US and Canadian armed forces, who utilized air surveillance and submarine robots to scour the area. The French research ship “Atlant” also joined the search with its Victor 6000 robot, capable of diving to the Titanic wreckage.
Named “Titan,” the submarine embarked on its journey on Sunday, with plans to resurface within seven hours. However, contact was lost less than two hours after launch. The US Coast Guard had warned that there was only around 40 hours of breathable air on board the submarine.
As the search progressed, concerns emerged about possible safety neglect regarding the tourist submarine.
How heartbreaking. The exploration of the Titanic’s wreck was a tragedy in itself. My thoughts are with those affected by this catastrophic internal explosion.