- The search and rescue operation for the Titanic submersible is expected to incur costs in the millions of dollars.
- According to a former Coast Guard commandant, it is unlikely that the vessel’s operator will be required to reimburse the US for the rescue mission.
- The Coast Guard would handle the situation similarly to rescuing someone’s boat.
The extensive search and rescue operation for the missing Titanic submersible is expected to come with a significant price tag, potentially totaling millions of dollars. However, OceanGate Expeditions, the company operating the vessel, is unlikely to be held accountable for reimbursing the US government, according to Ret. Adm. Paul Zukunft, a former Coast Guard leader.
In an effort to locate the submersible, which went missing en route to the Titanic shipwreck, the US and Canadian authorities have deployed various resources, including submarines, aircraft, and sonar buoys. Specialized equipment such as the US Navy’s Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS) and a French deep-diving robot are also being dispatched for the search and potential retrieval of the submersible.
Chris Boyer, the executive director of the National Association for Search and Rescue, informed The New York Times that this mission will likely cost millions of dollars.
If FADOSS is required for the rescue, the expenses will likely increase further. According to The Washington Post, the lift system needs to be welded onto a boat at the Titanic wreck site, a process that would take approximately 24 hours. Furthermore, the submersible’s life support is expected to expire by Thursday afternoon, posing a grim outlook for the passengers’ survival.
Nevertheless, OceanGate Expeditions will not be obligated to reimburse the US government for the expenses incurred during the operation, as explained by Ret. Adm. Zukunft. He compared the situation to a private citizen whose boat sinks and requires rescue, emphasizing that the government does not hold individuals responsible for the associated costs.
For those interested in exploring the Titanic wreckage, OceanGate charges $250,000 per person. This submersible, named the Titan, is made of carbon fiber and began conducting annual tours in 2021. Unfortunately, it went missing during its third expedition, resulting in the disappearance of five individuals, including the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions and at least two billionaires.
According to Mike Reiss, a former passenger who went on multiple trips with OceanGate, dives on the Titan would sometimes be canceled due to hazardous weather conditions, and communication losses were not uncommon between the submersible and its mother ship.
In 2018, safety concerns regarding the Titan were raised by a now-dismissed company executive and the Marine Technology Society. It remains unclear whether these issues were addressed or resolved by OceanGate.
While it is uncertain whether OceanGate requires its customers to obtain insurance prior to the dives, the passengers were likely aware of the risks associated with embarking on a submersible exploration. David Pogue, a CBS correspondent who experienced a dive in the Titan in 2022, had to sign a waiver acknowledging the experimental nature of the vessel and the potential physical injury, emotional trauma, or even death that could result from the experience.
Mike Reiss revealed to CNN that during his visit to the Titanic wreckage with OceanGate in 2022, he was aware of the risks involved and understood that death was a possibility. He described the experience as one of exploration rather than vacation or tourism, emphasizing the ongoing learning process associated with such expeditions.
Despite the clear risks, the five individuals who went missing in the submersible were willing to trust their lives to the Titan, according to Reiss.
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