21-6-2023 (NORTH ATLANTIC) Rescuers are engaged in a frantic search across a vast expanse of the North Atlantic, entering the third day on Tuesday (Jun 20), as they race against time to locate a tourist submersible that disappeared while carrying wealthy passengers on an expedition to the site of the Titanic wreck in the deep waters off Canada’s coast.
The Titan, a 21-foot-long vessel designed to remain submerged for 96 hours, providing ample air supply for its five occupants, now faces a critical situation. With Thursday morning marking the deadline before air reserves run out, authorities are working diligently to locate the submersible. Early on Sunday, the miniature sub lost communication with its parent ship on the surface approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its planned two-hour dive.
As Canadian and United States authorities intensify the search efforts, concerns have emerged about the safety design and development of the submersible, owned by US-based OceanGate Expeditions.
The Titanic, a British ocean liner that famously collided with an iceberg and sank during its maiden voyage in April 1912, lies approximately 1,450km east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 644km south of St John’s, Newfoundland.
US and Canadian aircraft have scoured an area exceeding 7,600 square miles of open sea, larger than the state of Connecticut, according to US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick. The Canadian military has deployed sonar buoys to detect any sounds emanating from the Titan, while a commercial vessel equipped with a remote-controlled deepwater submersible is also aiding in the search near the presumed location. In response to a request from the US Navy, a French research ship carrying its own deep-sea diving robot vessel has been dispatched and is expected to arrive on Wednesday night local time, as confirmed by the Ifremer research institute.
Among the individuals aboard the Titan for the high-priced tourist expedition, costing US$250,000 per person, are British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, and Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, along with his 19-year-old son Suleman, both British citizens. Additionally, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, founder and CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, were reportedly on board, although authorities have not officially disclosed the identity of any passengers.
Rescue teams face significant challenges in locating the submersible and ensuring the safety of its occupants, according to experts. In the event of an emergency during the dive, the pilot would likely have released weights to facilitate ascent, explained Alistair Greig, a marine engineering professor at University College London. However, without communication, finding a submersible of van-like proportions in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean could prove arduous. Furthermore, the submersible is sealed from the outside, preventing the occupants from escaping without assistance even if it surfaces.
If the Titan is located on the ocean floor, a rescue operation would become even more formidable due to the extreme conditions at depths of over 2 miles. The Titanic rests at a depth of 3,810m, where sunlight does not penetrate. Specialized equipment is required to reach such depths without succumbing to the immense water pressure.
“It’s really a bit like being an astronaut going into space,” remarked Tim Matlin, a Titanic expert. “I think if it’s on the seabed, there are so few submarines that are capable of going that deep. And so, therefore, I think it was going to be almost impossible to effect a sub-to-sub rescue.”
PREVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS
The ability of the tourist sub’s hull design to withstand extreme depths was called into question in a 2018 lawsuit filed by David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former director of marine operations. Lochridge claimed he was terminated after expressing safety concerns about the vessel. OceanGate countered with a breach-of-contract suit, stating that Lochridge, who lacks an engineering background, disregarded the reassurances of the lead engineer and improperly shared confidential information. The two parties settled the case in November 2018.
Months before the lawsuit, a group of leaders in the submersible industry wrote to OceanGate, warning that the “experimental approach” to the sub’s development could lead to “minor to catastrophic” problems, as reported by the New York Times.
US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation, according to White House national security adviser John Kirby. King Charles of Britain has requested updates on the search as well, as Dawood has long been a supporter of the monarch’s charity, the Prince’s Trust International.
OceanGate has declared that it is “mobilizing all options,” and US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger has affirmed that the company is actively assisting in guiding the search efforts. “They know that site better than anybody else,” Mauger stated. “We’re working very closely with them to prioritize our underwater search efforts and get equipment there.”
Notably, OceanGate schedules five week-long missions to the Titanic each summer, as stated on its website. CBS reporter David Pogue, who rode aboard the Titan last year, revealed in a December news report the waiver he had to sign, which acknowledged that the submersible had not received approval or certification from any regulatory body and could result in death.
In a recent interview, Pogue emphasized that OceanGate has successfully undertaken nearly two dozen dives to the wreck and conducts meticulous safety checks before each excursion. “They treat this thing like a space launch,” he noted.
Harding, a UAE-based businessman and adventurer who serves as chairman of Action Aviation, posted a message on Facebook last Saturday, expressing that this mission is likely to be the sole manned expedition to the Titanic in 2023.
Fellow tourist Dawood is the vice chairman of Engro, one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates.
The sinking of the Titanic, which claimed over 1,500 lives, has been immortalized in books and films, including the 1997 blockbuster movie “Titanic,” which renewed public interest in the shipwreck.
