The search for a submersible carrying a team of five has entered a critical phase, with only a few hours left before its air supply runs out. The minivan-sized submersible, Titan, operated by US-based OceanGate Expeditions, was taking the team to view the 1912 wreckage of the Titanic, located 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The vessel was carrying 96 hours of air, according to the company, but lost contact with its support ship near the end of a two-hour dive to the wreck. The exact expiration of its oxygen tanks depends on various factors, such as whether the craft still has power and how calm the crew is.
Search and rescue teams, along with the family and friends of the Titan’s occupants, have been given hope by the US Coast Guard’s announcement that Canadian search planes had recorded undersea noises using sonar buoys on Tuesday and Wednesday. A deep sea search is currently underway directed towards the locations where the noises were detected.
The passengers of the submersible comprised British billionaire and adventurer Hamish Harding, 58, and Pakistani-born business magnate Shahzada Dawood, 48, along with his 19-year-old son Suleman, who are both British citizens. The expedition is part of a tourism adventure that OceanGate offers its clients for $250,000 per person.
Experts believe that the sounds detected earlier could have been made from something other than the Titan, and it’s still unknown whether the deep-sea vessel is damaged or still intact. The submersible’s crew has a limited window to signal for help, or the outcome might be fatal.
The search for Titan’s submersible is causing stir among the public and celebrities alike, as it adds to the myth and intrigue associated with the Titanic’s tragic story. At the same time, it brings to attention the risks and dangers associated with deep-sea diving and exploration. The rescue teams are working around the clock to find the submersible and bring its crew safely back to the surface.
