20-6-2023 (BOSTON) US Coast Guard officials revealed that the tourist submarine en route to the Titanic wreckage, which disappeared in the waters of Newfoundland on Sunday morning, has only 96 hours of life support remaining. The search efforts extended beyond the first day as authorities continued their mission.
On Monday, the Coast Guard reported that OceanGate Expeditions, the operator of the submarine, informed them that the missing vessel can sustain its five occupants for approximately four days before exhausting its oxygen supply.
Rear Admiral John Mauger addressed reporters, stating, “We’re making every possible effort to locate the submersible and rescue those on board.” He further clarified that the operator had indicated the submarine’s emergency capability to be 96 hours, and they estimate that between 70 and the full 96 hours are still available.
Mauger, the First District Commander and leader of the search and rescue mission, mentioned that the United States is coordinating with Canada in the operation.
Images of the Titan submersible preparing for its dive to the #Titanic as well as images after it began it’s dive. Coast Card says it had last communication 1 hour 45 minutes after this dive. (Images via Action Aviation/IG) #OceanGate #Titan #titanicsubmarine pic.twitter.com/SJsNnjAchR
— Josh Benson (@WFLAJosh) June 20, 2023
OceanGate Expeditions, a private company that offers tours to the Titanic wreckage site for up to $250,000, confirmed that their Titan submarine had gone missing with crew members on board, approximately 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.
Mauger acknowledged the challenges posed by the search area, which is the location of the Titanic at a depth of about 12,500 feet in the Atlantic Ocean. Multiple US and Canadian ships and aircraft have been deployed to the area to search for the submarine, in case it resurfaces successfully but lacks communication with its surface support vessel.
Additionally, a plane from the New York Coast Guard is preparing to join the search on Monday evening. Mauger mentioned that the Canadian Coast Guard has deployed several sonar buoys capable of detecting the submarine even at the ocean floor.
“Our current focus is on locating the vessel,” Mauger stated, noting the participation of commercial ships and submarines in the search. He added, “Our thoughts are with the families and crew members aboard the submersible.”
The US Coast Guard confirmed that the research vessel Polar Prince lost contact with the Titan approximately one hour and 45 minutes after the submarine submerged in its search for the Titanic.
OceanGate Expeditions mentioned that due to the location in the middle of the Atlantic, they rely on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites for communication at sea.
While officials refrained from disclosing the identities of the passengers, the family of renowned explorer Hamish Harding confirmed that he was among those aboard the submarine when it disappeared. The 58-year-old British millionaire had expressed excitement about the opportunity to witness the Titanic in the days leading up to the voyage. Harding also mentioned that veteran French Navy diver P.H. Nargeolet, who has led previous expeditions to the Titanic, was among the mission participants. It is currently unknown whether Nargeolet is among the missing individuals.
