Rescuers are in a race against time to locate a missing submersible that was scheduled to explore the Titanic wreckage near Newfoundland. The situation is dire for the five individuals aboard the OceanGate Expeditions’ underwater submersible Titan, as they lost contact with their support ship shortly after beginning their dive on Sunday morning. With an estimated four days’ worth of oxygen supply, concerns are mounting about the survival of the passengers, provided the vessel remains intact and has not yet suffered a catastrophic decompression event.
Dr. Samir Gupta, a respirologist at the University of Toronto, emphasizes the significant challenge of preserving enough oxygen in the cramped and nerve-wracking conditions. In a TikTok video, he explains that the passengers have a fixed amount of oxygen available, which is estimated to last between 72 to 96 hours. The body consumes more oxygen during physical activity, so the key for the passengers will be to remain as still as possible and minimize oxygen usage. However, this proves difficult in the confined and anxiety-inducing environment of the submersible.
Another factor that could affect the situation is temperature. Depending on the submersible’s depth, it may be extremely cold, causing the passengers to shiver. Muscle movement from shivering uses approximately three times more oxygen than resting, according to Gupta. Lowering body temperature can help reduce the metabolic rate and oxygen demand, thereby prolonging survival. However, achieving a meditative state and avoiding panic will be crucial mental challenges for the passengers.
The submersible embarked with a four-day supply of oxygen when it set sail on Sunday. The estimated 96-hour oxygen supply serves as a target for searchers, but it is based on a “typical” human’s oxygen consumption during certain activities. Frank Owen, a submarine search and rescue expert, suggests that the diver aboard the Titan will likely advise passengers to minimize metabolic levels to extend the 96-hour timeframe.
When a person runs out of oxygen, the initial symptoms—such as shortness of breath, headaches, and impaired judgment—can quickly escalate, leading to a coma. As the brain receives less oxygen, there is a risk of seizures that may result in brain death. Professor Milsom explains that most individuals lose consciousness within three to five minutes and typically die within five to ten minutes once oxygen is fully depleted. The human average for holding one’s breath is 30 to 90 seconds, and training to extend that time can carry medical risks.
The U.S. Coast Guard has reported that underwater noises were detected near the Titanic wreck, giving hope that at least someone aboard the Titan is alive and attempting to signal for help. Though search and rescue crews remain optimistic about finding the passengers alive, the challenge lies in both locating the Titan in the depths of the ocean and finding a suitable vessel capable of descending to such depths for a rescue mission.
In the event that there is no hope of survival due to depleted oxygen, recovering the vessel becomes a difficult task. To reach the submersible, the best option may be using a remotely operated robot with a fiber optic cable. However, as Jeff Karson, a professor emeritus of earth and environmental sciences at Syracuse University, mentions, debris from the Titanic is scattered over a kilometer, some of which could be the size of the submersible itself, making locating and retrieving it a challenging endeavor.
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