Search for Missing Submersible Exploring Titanic Wreckage

On Jun 20, 2023

Search for Missing Civilian Submersible in North Atlantic

Officials are in a race against time to find a civilian submersible that went missing on Sunday in the North Atlantic while voyaging to the wreckage of the Titanic. The 21-foot vessel has four days of emergency capability, and crews with the US and Canadian coast guards are scouring the ocean’s surface about 900 miles east of Cape Cod and using sonar to listen for sounds far below the water, which is up to 13,000 feet deep in the area.

Five People on Board the Missing Vessel

Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander of the US Coast Guard’s First District, announced that the missing vessel had one pilot and four “mission specialists” on board. The group was on an expedition to view the Titanic wreckage, and Mauger did not identify the individuals as authorities were still in the process of contacting family members. He referred reporters to the group conducting the expedition, OceanGate Expeditions, for information about the term “mission specialist.”

Time is Running Out as Search Continues

Search and rescue efforts continue with time as a significant factor. Mauger stated that the vessel had 96 hours of rescue or emergency capability, so there could be anywhere between 70 to 96 hours available at this point. C-130 aircraft are searching the surface, and two P-8 planes that use sonar to find submarines are also part of the search. In addition, commercial ships are involved, with one using sonar to help locate the missing submersible.

British Businessman Among the Missing

Hamish Harding, a British businessman based in the United Arab Emirates, is one of the individuals on the missing submersible, according to a social media post by his company, Action Aviation. Harding was one of the first people to travel the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean—the deepest known point on Earth—and joined OceanGate Expeditions for their RMS TITANIC Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic.

OceanGate Expeditions Mobilizing All Options

OceanGate is assisting in the search and said it is “exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely.” The company operates a trip taking passengers to the Titanic’s wreckage at the bottom of the ocean for prices starting at $250,000. The eight-day expedition allows participants to become one of the few to see the Titanic with their own eyes and is based out of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The submersible, named “Titan,” is a 23,000-pound vessel made of carbon fiber and titanium, featuring a real-time hull health monitoring system for safety.

Support from Around the World

As search and rescue efforts continue, support from around the world is pouring in, showing the real goodness in people at a time like this. Despite the situation, those involved in the search remain focused on bringing their friends back safely and are thinking positively.

Read More of this Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-06-20 09:33:00