- A submersible that offers Titanic shipwreck tours is currently missing.
- The Boston Coast Guard has launched a search operation for the missing submersible.
- OceanGate Expeditions, the operator of the submersible, has confirmed its involvement in the rescue mission.
The US Coast Guard in Boston has initiated a search and rescue mission for a submersible that provides tours to the Titanic shipwreck, as reported by the BBC.
The submersible lost communication with its mother ship less than two hours after submerging on Sunday, according to the US Coast Guard’s tweet. Five people were onboard the submersible.
OceanGate Expeditions, as confirmed by CBS News, is the operator of the submersible and is actively working to rescue the crew and ensure their safety. It is unknown if any of the crew members were tourists.
Insider previously reported that OceanGate Expeditions collaborated with NASA to design and engineer their deep-diving carbon fiber submersible, known as the Titan.
The Titan is specifically equipped to reach the depths of the Titanic wreck, which lies 12,500 feet at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It can accommodate a crew of five and has 96 hours of life support onboard.
OceanGate Expeditions expressed their primary concern for the crewmembers and their families. They are grateful for the extensive assistance received from government agencies and deep-sea companies in their search and recovery efforts.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the vessel involved is considered a submersible rather than a submarine. Submersibles rely on a mother ship for launching and recovery, as they have limited power reserves.
In this case, the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince, which transports submersibles to the Titanic shipwreck, was involved in the expedition. The US Coast Guard reported the loss of contact between Polar Prince and the Titan during the dive.
Recently, OceanGate Expeditions revealed their reliance on Starlink for communication while at sea, as there are no cell towers in the middle of the ocean.
Tourists have the opportunity to join small submersibles to explore the remnants of the Titanic, paying $250,000 for an 8-day expedition with OceanGate Expeditions.
In 2022, OceanGate Expeditions released an unprecedented 8K video of their Titanic tours, providing new insights into the wreck’s condition. The decay of the Titanic has been a subject of study due to deep-sea currents, salt corrosion, and metal-eating bacteria. Some scientists predict the complete disappearance of the wreck by 2030.
Insider has reached out to OceanGate and the US Coast Guard for further comments on the ongoing development of the situation.
This story is developing and will be updated.
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