A tourist submarine operated by OceanGate Expeditions, carrying five passengers, has gone missing during a visit to the Titanic shipwreck site in the Atlantic Ocean.
As of Tuesday night, the sub was said to have about 40 hours of breathable air left.
Following the loss of contact with a Canadian research ship on Sunday morning, June 18, about an hour and 45 minutes into the vessel’s descent, both the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian authorities mobilized a search and rescue operation on Monday, June 19.
The submarine was navigating an underwater journey to the wreckage site of the Titanic, resting approximately 12,500 feet below the surface of the ocean near Newfoundland, Canada. OceanGate Expeditions, renowned for its exclusive Titanic tours, verified the submarine’s ownership and is presently concentrating on ensuring the safety and return of the passengers.
Notably among the missing is Hamish Harding, a British entrepreneur and explorer recognized for his journey to space with Blue Origin in the preceding year. Harding’s family has appealed for thoughts and prayers through social media.
With just a four-day reserve of oxygen, the clock is ticking for the submarine’s occupants. The company’s tours, which can reach prices of $250,000, generally include up to 10-hour dives over an eight-day journey.
Since its discovery in 1985, the Titanic, which tragically sank in April 1912, has been a sought-after tourist spot, with its popularity further boosted by the 1997 blockbuster film “Titanic” directed by James Cameron.
OceanGate Expeditions utilizes Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites for communication due to the remote location of the site. Two additional expeditions were on the company’s schedule for June 2024.
Recent explorations of the wreck also unveiled over 700,000 scans by Atlantic Productions and Magellan Ltd, providing detailed 3D reconstructions of the sunken vessel.