A major search and rescue operation was launched on Monday after a submersible used for Titanic wreck exploration went missing in the Atlantic Ocean along with its crew. OceanGate, the tour firm that conducts high-priced expeditions to the iconic shipwreck, stated that it is exploring all avenues to ensure the safe return of the crew, reported the British Broadcasting Corporation. Government agencies and deep-sea firms are collaborating in the efforts to locate the missing submersible. The Titanic, which sank in 1912 and rests at a depth of approximately 3,800 metres (12,500 feet), continues to fascinate the world.
The missing craft is believed to be the Titan submersible owned by OceanGate. This truck-sized submersible is designed to accommodate five people and typically carries a four-day oxygen supply for its dives. The exact time of contact loss with the submersible remains unknown. OceanGate expressed its sole focus on the safety of the crew members and their families, while expressing gratitude for the extensive assistance received from various government agencies and deep-sea companies in the ongoing search and rescue mission.
The Canada Coast Guard said that a military aircraft and a Coast Guard ship are aiding in the search & rescue operation, reported The New York Times.
OceanGate's expeditions offer participants an eight-day journey aboard a carbon-fibre submersible, providing them with an extraordinary opportunity to explore the Titanic wreck. The company's website indicates that one expedition is currently underway, with two more planned for June 2024.
The submersible typically includes a pilot, three paying guests, and a designated "content expert." Departing from St John's in Newfoundland, approximately 370 miles (600 kilometers) away from the wreck site, each full dive to the wreckage takes around eight hours.
OceanGate owns three submersibles, with the Titan being the only one capable of reaching the depths required to access the Titanic. Weighing 10,432 kg (23,000 pounds), the vessel can dive to depths of up to 4,000 metres and provides 96 hours of life support for a crew of five. According to the New York Times, OceanGate Expeditions has previously charged tourists $250,000 per person per trip to the site.
The Polar Prince, a vessel used for transporting submersibles to the wreckage site, is reported to have been involved in the expedition, as confirmed by its owner.
Since its discovery in 1985, the Titanic wreckage has been extensively explored. The wreck is divided into two parts, the bow and the stern, separated by approximately 800 metres (2,600 feet), surrounded by a vast debris field, the BBC report stated. In a recent development, a comprehensive digital scan of the wreck was created using deep-sea mapping technology, offering a detailed view of the ship's scale and even minute details such as serial numbers on the propellers.