Titanic tourist submarine missing
Exploring the Titanic's Depths: Rescuers Conduct Ocean Scans as Time Runs Out.
Search teams are engaged in a time-sensitive mission to locate a submersible that disappeared during a dive to the historic wreck of the Titanic. As contact was lost with the small tourist sub, concerns escalated for the five individuals on board. Despite expanding the rescue operation into deeper waters, the search has yet to yield any results.
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The tourist submersible, carrying British businessman Hamish Harding, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, and Stockton Rush - the chief executive of OceanGate, encountered difficulties approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into its dive on Sunday. With an estimated 40 hours of oxygen remaining as of 13:00 EST (18:00 BST) on Tuesday, the urgency to locate the missing submersible has intensified, according to the US Coast Guard.
At a news conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Capt Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard emphasized the round-the-clock efforts being made by search crews. However, the vastness of the search area and the complexity of the operation have presented challenges, resulting in a lack of progress thus far.
Collaborative efforts involving US and Canadian agencies, navies, and commercial deep-sea firms, including the deployment of military planes, a submarine, and sonar buoys, are underway to aid the rescue operation. Additionally, multiple private vessels and the arrival of the commercial pipe-laying ship, Deep Energy, equipped with remote submersibles, have bolstered search capabilities.
Renowned oceanographer and shipwreck hunter, David Mearns, expressed hope that Deep Energy's submersibles could reach the Titanic wreck's depth of 3,800m (12,500ft) to search for the missing vehicle. Personally acquainted with two of the passengers, Mr. Harding and Mr. Nargeolet, Mr. Mearns remains optimistic about the potential for a successful search.
As the clock ticks and every passing moment becomes crucial, the race against time to locate the missing Titanic tourist submersible intensifies. With the combined efforts of various agencies, navies, and deep-sea experts, the hope remains to rescue the passengers and retrieve the submersible from the depths of the ocean.
Location and Coordination:
The wreckage of the Titanic rests approximately 435 miles (700km) south of St. John's, Newfoundland, in Canada. However, the ongoing rescue mission is being coordinated from the city of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States.
The US Coast Guard has reported that research vessels, namely the Polar Prince (which served as the support ship during the tourist expedition) and Deep Energy, are actively scouring the ocean's surface in their search efforts. Simultaneously, a Canadian P3 Aurora aircraft is conducting sonar searches over a vast area, which, as of Tuesday morning, measured over 10,000 square miles (26,900 square km) according to the Coast Guard.
In a show of solidarity, France's sea ministry has redirected the Atalante, a vessel equipped with a subsea robot, to provide aid in the ongoing search mission. The vessel's involvement aims to bolster the search operation and increase the chances of locating the missing tourist submersible.
Challenges of Underwater Visibility:
One significant challenge faced during the search mission is the rapid loss of visibility below the water's surface. Light penetration is limited, hindering visibility to a great extent.
OceanGate, as mentioned on their website, owns three submersibles, out of which only the Titan is equipped to dive to the depths required for reaching the Titanic wreckage. Weighing 23,000 pounds (10,432 kg), the Titan has the capability to reach impressive depths of up to 13,100 feet (3,993 meters).
Exploring the Titanic:
To embark on an extraordinary eight-day journey that includes dives to the Titanic wreckage at a depth of 3,800 meters, individuals can purchase tickets priced at $250,000 (£195,000). This immersive experience offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the historic site and witness the remnants of the legendary ship firsthand.
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