A massive search and rescue effort is under way in the North Atlantic after a submersible exploring the wreck of the Titanic went missing on Sunday.
The research vessel Polar Prince lost contact with the crew of the Titan sub an hour and 45 minutes into its dive. The US Coast Guard estimated the sub had between 70 and 96 hours of emergency oxygen, as of 17:00 EST (22:00 BST) on Monday.
Tour firm OceanGate said it was exploring all options to get the crew back safely, and government agencies have joined the rescue operation.
On Tuesday morning, US Coast Guard Rear Adm John Mauger said that the search area had been expanded to deeper waters after a night of searching that ultimately proved unsuccessful.
David Mearns, a marine scientist and expedition leader who has been following the operation, also told the BBC that a commercial pipe-laying ship had arrived in the area to help.
“We’re just hoping that it has the capabilities to reach those kind of depths – 3,800 metres – to search for the submersible and have the ability to recover it,” he said. “There is some hope that that could happen.”
The search has now stretched into its second day. The Polar Prince first arrived near the Titanic wreck on Sunday morning and the Titan was scheduled to start its drive early that day at 04:00 local time.
The Titan submersible was thought to be approximately 900 miles (1450km) off the coast of Cape Cod at the time.
US Coast Guard’s Rear Admiral John Mauger said on Monday that it is a challenge to conduct a search in such a remote area.
The Coast Guard has sent two C-130 Hercules aircraft to search for the submersible on the surface of the water, and has been joined by a Canadian C-130, and a P8 aircraft equipped with underwater sonar capability. Sonar buoys are also being deployed in the area.
Among the five people on board the Titan, four people so far have been confirmed – Hamish Harding, a 58-year-old British businessman and explorer, British businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son, Suleman Dawood, 19, and 77-year-old French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
Mr Harding announced he was joining the team earlier this month, and said that the crew on the vessel includes “a couple of legendary explorers, some of which have done over 30 dives to the RMS Titanic since the 1980s”.
Mr Harding is the chairman of Action Aviation, an international company which deals with sales and operations in the business aviation industry, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet was also on board, a family spokesman told the BBC. The explorer, nicknamed “Mr Titanic”, is a former French navy diver and has reportedly spent more time at the wreckage of the Titanic than any other explorer.
And Stockton Rush, chief executive of OceanGate – the firm behind the dive – is also being widely reported to be on the vessel.
SOURCE || BBC News
