The missing submersible that was exploring the Titanic shipwreck at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean has run out of oxygen and the prospects of a rescue for the five people on board appear slim. The submersible was last seen on Sunday, and experts estimate that it has likely exhausted their oxygen supply. The US Coast Guard had initially estimated that there was a range of 70 to 96 hours of breathable air on the sub when it was deployed. On Monday, the sub had already been underwater for 39 hours, so it is thought to be out of oxygen now.
The experts suggest that a catastrophic failure could be the cause of the sub’s disappearance, with a power failure or a hull breach that could have resulted in the vessel imploding. The US Coast Guard is still searching for the sub but has not revealed any indications of knowing where it might be. They have also not disclosed under what conditions the search would be canceled or whether there would be any changes to the search operation after the expected oxygen depletion.
Forensics experts point out that it is challenging to find bodies in a highly pressurized and intact vessel without any precedent or research on how to proceed. The rate of decomposition depends on the environment where the sub has gone missing. Cold temperatures and no oxygen could result in desiccation, where the body dries out and ends up like mummies. Anaerobes, a type of bacteria that can survive without oxygen, can also contribute to decomposition, and have to be considered as well.
Despite the slim chances of rescuing the people on board, the search operation must continue until a solution or a definite end is reached. The discovery of the present-day Titanic wreck was a significant achievement, and the mystery of the missing submersible may take more time to be solved.
