As time counts down for the crew of five aboard the tourist submarine Titan, who set out to explore the wreck of the Titanic, the search continues with planes, ships, submarines, and unmanned robotic vehicles searching an area of 10,000 square miles. Despite increased sounds of impacts, the US Coast Guard admits that no one can be sure of their location. Hopes have diminished as some experts estimate the crew’s oxygen supply will run out at around 2 pm.
We have to remain optimistic and hopeful, says Captain Jamie Frederick, who is involved in the search. The investigation is led by the US and Canadian navies along with private companies specializing in deep-sea missions. Two of the five crew members were members of the Century-old international organization, the Explorers Club.
The exact condition of the crew and location of the submarine are unknown, but it is believed that if the vessel remains intact, it may only have a few hours of oxygen left. A hyperbaric medicine expert from Memorial University, Dr. Ken Leeds, stated that, depending on their circumstances, passengers could survive longer than expected. It depends on how cold it is and how effective the vessel is at conserving oxygen, he said.
However, the level of oxygen may have dropped as the ship has likely lost electrical power, further exacerbating the perilous situation. Additionally, low oxygen levels increase carbon dioxide exhalation, which can cause hypercapnia and, if left untreated, could prove fatal. An expert who has seen footage of the interior of the submarine noted that he did not see carbon dioxide removal systems known as scrubbers.
The situation is critical, and while the public and experts alike wait in anticipation of good news, Vice Admiral Mauger expresses the difficulty of the task ahead. We don’t know the rate of oxygen consumption per passenger on the submarine. The hope is that the five crew members will be found and rescued before it is too late.
