A massive search and rescue operation is underway in the mid-Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic’s wreck on Sunday.
Contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard said.
The missing craft is believed to be OceanGate’s Titan submersible, a truck-sized sub that holds five people and usually dives with a four-day emergency supply of oxygen.
The Titan is one of three submersibles owned by OceanGate, and it is the only one that is capable of diving deep enough to reach the Titanic wreckage.
The vessel weighs 23,000 lbs (10,432 kg) and, according to the OceanGate website, can reach depths of up to 13,100 ft and has 96 hours of life support available for a crew of five.
The submersible was carrying five people when it went missing, including British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding.
On social media at the weekend, Mr Harding said he was “proud to finally announce” that he would be aboard the mission to the wreck of the Titanic – but added that because of the “worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023”.
He later wrote: “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow.”
The search for the Titan is being led by the US Coast Guard, with the assistance of the Canadian Navy, commercial deep-sea firms, and the Polar Prince, the vessel that was transporting the submersible to the wreckage site.
So far, the search has been unsuccessful, but officials say they are hopeful that the Titan will be found.
“We are taking this personally,” said Rear Adm John Mauger of the US Coast Guard. “We are doing everything we can to bring those on board home safe.”
The search for the Titan is a reminder of the dangers of deep-sea diving. The Titanic wreck lies in an area of the Atlantic Ocean that is known for its strong currents and frigid temperatures.
Even with the best equipment and training, there is always a risk of something going wrong during a deep-sea dive.
The disappearance of the Titan is a tragedy, but it is also a testament to the courage and determination of those who work in the field of deep-sea exploration.
The search for the Titan is ongoing, and officials say they will not give up hope until the submersible is found.
In the meantime, the families of those on board are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
