A race against the clock is underway as authorities desperately search for the Titanic tourist submarine that disappeared in the vast expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Titanic tourist submarine updates: Here’s everything we know
The submersible, carrying five crew members, is rapidly running out of oxygen, adding urgency to the rescue mission.
Following the distressing vanishing act on Sunday, search teams have been tirelessly scouring the ocean depths in hopes of locating the missing vessel.
Banging sounds heard near the submersible’s last known location
Recent developments indicate that a Canadian aircraft conducting aerial searches detected peculiar “banging” sounds near the sub’s last known location.
The discovery was swiftly relayed to the US Department of Homeland Security via email, prompting a shift in the search operation by the US Coast Guard.
Regrettably, these efforts have yielded no positive outcomes thus far.
Titanic tourist submarine has 30 hours of oxygen supply
Authorities estimate that the submarine’s oxygen supply may last for approximately 30 hours, as of Wednesday morning. The carbon-fibre vessel, named the Titan, embarked on an expedition to explore the historic wreckage of the Titanic, descending to depths of around 3 800 meters.
On board were a skilled pilot, a renowned British adventurer, two members of a Pakistani business family, and a Titanic expert.
The Titan initially embarked with a 96-hour oxygen reserve when it commenced its journey on Sunday morning. However, the ticking clock now suggests that the oxygen supply may be depleted as early as Thursday morning.
Concerns have been raised as communication systems aboard the submersible ceased functioning approximately one hour and 45 minutes after it submerged, leaving experts to contemplate dire possibilities.
Journalist David Pogue, who had previously experienced a Titanic expedition aboard the Titan, revealed that the vessel employed two communication systems.
These systems involved text messages exchanged with a surface ship and safety pings emitted every 15 minutes as a sign of operational status. Sadly, both systems ceased functioning within the aforementioned timeframe.
Pogue somberly stated,
“There are only two things that could mean. Either they lost all power or the ship developed a hull breach and it imploded instantly. Both of those are devastatingly hopeless.”
Rescue operations face significant challenges, according to experts. Alistair Greig, a marine engineering professor at University College London, highlighted that submersibles typically carry a drop weight, a mass that can be released in emergencies to trigger buoyancy and facilitate ascent to the surface.
However, if the submersible has descended to the seabed and is unable to regain power, options become severely limited. While the vessel may remain intact beyond the continental shelf, accessing such depths is extremely challenging, if not impossible, for most vessels and divers.
Thus far, an extensive area covering 10 000 square miles has been scoured by search teams, including the US Coast Guard and Canadian military. Sonar buoys have been deployed to detect any possible sounds originating from the stricken Titan.
Meanwhile, OceanGate’s expeditions, known for their scientific objectives and including archaeologists and marine biologists, have been halted amidst the urgent search and rescue efforts.
The Titanic wreck, resting at a depth of 3 800 meters and situated 400 nautical miles off the Canadian coast, has become an iconic site. Since its discovery in 1985, small submersibles have allowed adventurous tourists to witness the remnants of the historic tragedy.
OceanGate, conducting its inaugural dive in 2021, has invited “mission specialists” who actively participate in the submersible operations, taking turns operating sonar equipment and engaging in various tasks during the eight-hour dives.
As time slips away, the international community anxiously awaits news of the missing tourist submarine.
The haunting memories of the Titanic disaster, which claimed numerous lives over a century ago, only intensify the determination to rescue the stranded crew members.