Debris Discovered Near Titanic Site Amid Ongoing Search for Missing Submersible, U.S. Coast Guard Reports

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An undersea expedition has resulted in the detection of a debris field close to the Titanic, marking a potential breakthrough in the search for a missing submersible carrying five passengers. The U.S. Coast Guard reported this development on Thursday, as part of their intense, round-the-clock efforts.

Details regarding the debris, such as its possible connection to the Titan, the lost submersible that was exploring the Titanic wreckage, were not provided in the Coast Guard’s Twitter update. Thursday marked the critical 96-hour mark since the submersible’s disappearance, after which breathable air might have depleted.

Experts, however, stressed that this was a rough estimate and survivability could extend if passengers conserved breathable air. The condition of the passengers remains unknown since the sub’s disappearance.

Search and rescue teams have deployed various equipment, including ships, planes, and undersea robots, to the disappearance site. Among the latest arrivals were a robot sent by a Canadian ship that reached the seafloor and a French research institute’s deep-diving robot equipped with cameras, lights, and arms.

Authorities have expanded their search area to several thousand miles, which is double the size of Connecticut and located in 2.5-mile deep (4 kilometers) waters. They are pinning their hopes on underwater sounds detected on Tuesday and Wednesday to narrow down the search area.

Meanwhile, the Titan, which was overdue on Sunday, was on an expedition to explore the Titanic, a century-old ocean liner wreck. The expedition is led by OceanGate Expeditions, which has been studying the Titanic’s decay and surrounding underwater ecosystem via yearly voyages since 2021. However, as of Thursday morning, optimism for the survival of the passengers is dwindling.

Several challenges persist including accurately locating the vessel, reaching it with rescue equipment, and bringing it up to the surface, all before the oxygen supply is depleted. Furthermore, allegations have been made about prior warnings regarding the submersible’s safety during its development.

On Thursday, global broadcasters emphasized the urgency of the situation by displaying clocks counting down to the estimated depletion of breathable air. Meanwhile, officials, such as Captain Jamie Frederick of the First Coast Guard District, continue to express hope for a successful rescue.

Authorities are currently trying to determine the source of detected underwater noises, described by Retired Navy Capt. Carl Hartsfield as “banging noises”. These sounds are encouraging as they may indicate submarine crew attempts to communicate with the surface.

Aboard the lost Titan is OceanGate CEO and pilot, Stockton Rush, along with British adventurer Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood with his son Suleman, and French Titanic expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has expressed confidence in the ongoing search efforts, requesting respect for the Dawood family’s privacy.

OceanGate successfully transported at least 46 people to the Titanic wreck site in 2021 and 2022. However, one of the company’s initial customers labeled his 2021 dive as a “kamikaze operation”, shedding light on the risky nature of the expedition.

Experts warn that incidents like the Titan’s disappearance underscore the inherent dangers and unknowns of deep-sea tourism. Despite advancements in technology, the deep-sea remains a largely inhospitable environment for humans, and as deep-sea tourism expands, the frequency of such incidents may increase.

The report was contributed by Big Big News writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Danica Kirka in London; and John Leicester in Paris.

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More about Missing Submersible

• U.S. Coast Guard
• OceanGate Expeditions
• Information on the Titanic
• Deep-sea Exploration
• Overview of Submersible Technology