A submarine vessel exploring the wreckage of the Titanic passenger liner went missing after losing contact with a research vessel that remained on the surface.
Five passengers are inside the submarine, which search-and-rescue operators said may hold enough oxygen for them to survive roughly three to four days inside. However, the depth of the Titanic’s location may make it difficult to locate the missing submersible as rescue vessels may not be able to dive that far.
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Here’s what we know about the missing submarine and the rescue efforts underway:
Where is the Titanic wreckage, and where did the submarine go missing?
The remains of the Titanic are located in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 370 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. The wreckage is about 2.4 miles underneath the surface of the water.
The Titan left for its expedition on Sunday morning but lost contact with a Canadian research vessel roughly one hour and 45 minutes after the dive began. The vessel was last located about 900 miles east of Cape Cod.
Rescue efforts will take place above the surface as well as underwater, according to officials. Rescuers will need to sift through the debris left behind by the wreckage, which could complicate efforts.
Who is on board?
Five passengers were on board the submersible when it went missing, although officials have not yet released their names. However, at least one posted on social media before the trip, identifying himself as a passenger.
British businessman Hamish Harding is believed to be on the submersible, posting a photo on Instagram before leaving on the expedition.
“I am proud to finally announce that I joined @oceangateexped for their RMS TITANIC Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic,” he wrote.
Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman, are also believed to be on the vessel, according to a statement released by their family online.
“We are very grateful for the concern being shown by our colleagues and friends and would like to request everyone to pray for their safety while granting the family privacy at this time,” they wrote.
What is the Titan submersible?
The Titan submersible is a small submarine designed to carry five passengers, including one pilot and four crew members, to explore the wreckage of the Titanic passenger ship.
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The submarine holds about 96 hours of life support for the five-person crew, according to OceanGate, a private research company that operates the vessel. The submarine is only 22 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 8 feet high — making it a tight fit for the crew as they set off on expeditions.
OceanGate Expeditions has organized more than a dozen trips since 2010 to different underwater wreckages. The company visited the Titanic in 2021 and 2022 to document the ship’s decay, noting it plans to revisit the passenger liner annually.
