The search area for finding a tourist submarine that went missing near the Titanic wreck site has doubled as the oxygen supply for the crew is running low. The submersible, named Titan, was carrying three people when it lost contact with its mother ship on Monday. It was supposed to return to the surface after exploring the remains of the famous ship that sank in 1912.
The US Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy have joined the search efforts, using planes and ships to scan the vast area of the North Atlantic Ocean where the sub is believed to be.
The Titan is designed to withstand the immense pressure at depths of up to 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), but it only has enough oxygen for 96 hours. That means the crew could run out of air by Friday.
The company that operates the sub, OceanGate Expeditions, said it was hopeful that the crew was safe and that the sub had surfaced but was unable to communicate due to a technical glitch.
The company's president, Stockton Rush, said he was in contact with the families of the crew and that they were "anxious but hopeful".
He said the sub had a locator beacon that should have activated automatically when it reached the surface, but it was possible that it was damaged or malfunctioning.
He also said that the sub had a backup system that would release a buoy with a radio transmitter if it detected a loss of power or pressure, but that had not happened either.
He said the most likely scenario was that the sub had encountered a strong current or a technical problem that prevented it from surfacing at the expected location and time.
He said the sub had enough fuel and battery power to last for several days, and that the crew had emergency rations and water.
He said he was confident that the sub could be found and recovered, and that he hoped to resume the Titanic expeditions once the situation was resolved.
The Titan is one of only five submersibles in the world that can dive to the Titanic site, which lies about 600 kilometers (370 miles) south of Newfoundland, Canada.
The company offers tours of the wreck for $125,000 per person, with each dive lasting about six hours.
The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York after hitting an iceberg, killing more than 1,500 people.
The search area for a missing tourist submersible that was on its way to the Titanic wreckage site has doubled as the oxygen supply dwindles.
The submersible, called the Titan, was reported overdue on Sunday night after it lost contact with the Polar Prince research ship. The submersible had a four-day oxygen supply when it set out, and that supply is now down to about two days.
Rescuers are using sonar and other equipment to search for the submersible, which is believed to be somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean about 435 miles south of St. John's, Newfoundland.
The submersible is carrying five people, including the pilot, Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, which operated the submersible. The other passengers are a British adventurer, two members of a Pakistani business family, and a Titanic expert.
The search for the submersible is a race against time, as the oxygen supply is running low. Rescuers are hopeful that they will be able to find the submersible and its passengers alive.
The search area for a missing tourist submersible that was on its way to the Titanic wreckage site has doubled as the oxygen supply dwindles.
The submersible, called the Titan, was reported overdue on Sunday night after it lost contact with the Polar Prince research ship. The submersible had a four-day oxygen supply when it set out, and that supply is now down to about two days.
Rescuers are using sonar and other equipment to search for the submersible, which is believed to be somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean about 435 miles south of St. John's, Newfoundland.
The submersible is carrying five people, including the pilot, Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, which operated the submersible. The other passengers are a British adventurer, two members of a Pakistani business family, and a Titanic expert.
The search for the submersible is a race against time, as the oxygen supply is running low. Rescuers are hopeful that they will be able to find the submersible and its passengers alive.
Here are some additional details about the search:
- The search area is now twice the size of Connecticut.
- Rescuers are using sonar, underwater vehicles, and aircraft to search for the submersible.
- The submersible is equipped with a beacon that can be used to track its location.
- The search is being coordinated by the Canadian Coast Guard.
The disappearance of the Titan is a reminder of the dangers of exploring the Titanic wreckage site. The site is located in deep, cold water, and there are many hazards, including strong currents, low visibility, and the risk of decompression sickness.
Despite the risks, the Titanic wreckage site is a popular tourist destination. In 2021, more than 5,000 people visited the site on submersibles.
The search for the Titan is ongoing, and rescuers are hopeful that they will be able to find the submersible and its passengers alive.
Despite the risks, the Titanic wreckage site is a popular tourist destination. In 2021, more than 5,000 people visited the site on submersibles.
The search for the Titan is ongoing, and rescuers are hopeful that they will be able to find the submersible and its passengers alive.
