Expanded Search for Missing Titanic-Exploring Sub, Titan, As Oxygen Supply Diminishes

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In an escalating race against time, the search for the missing submersible, Titan, that was en route to the Titanic wreckage has intensified. Additional ships were dispatched to the search area on Wednesday, spurred by the possibility that underwater sounds, detected for two consecutive days, might aid in narrowing down the search location.

Captain Jamie Frederick, from the First Coast Guard District, stated that the search zone, now twice the size of Connecticut and in waters of 2 1/2 miles depth, is being thoroughly swept. Despite the growing urgency due to the dwindling oxygen supply onboard, authorities remain hopeful for the survival of the Titan’s five passengers.

Frederick asserted, “This is a search and rescue mission, 100%,” promising to leverage every available resource to find the missing submersible and its crew.

Meanwhile, new revelations hint at significant warnings regarding vessel safety during the development of the submersible. The region of the North Atlantic where the Titan disappeared is known for foggy and stormy conditions, complicating the search-and-rescue operation, according to Donald Murphy, a prominent oceanographer and former chief scientist of the Coast Guard’s International Ice Patrol.

Key to the search efforts are remote-operated, camera-equipped robots, designed to scan the seafloor at depths unreachable by other vessels. However, the origin and precise location of the detected sounds remain unknown.

Retired Navy Capt. Carl Hartsfield cautioned that the detected “banging noises” should be understood within the larger context, ruling out potential manmade sources other than the Titan. The noises could be promising, as submarine crews unable to communicate with the surface are taught to bang on their submersible’s hull to be detected by sonar.

The Navy’s Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System, capable of hoisting up to 60,000 pounds (27,216 kilograms), has arrived in St. John’s, Canada. Preparation for its use will take another 24 hours.

Despite having seven backup systems, the Titan, carrying five passengers including its pilot Stockton Rush, the CEO of the company managing the expedition, has remained untraceable since Sunday night. The submersible was reported overdue in waters about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s.

Experts anticipate that the passengers are currently facing severe conditions, including near-freezing temperatures, making their survival a challenging feat. Authorities are working under the presumption of a four-day oxygen supply onboard when the vessel embarked on its mission on Sunday.

Several people had successfully traveled on OceanGate’s submersible to the Titanic wreck site in the past years. However, documents reveal warnings about potential safety issues due to the experimental nature of the vessel’s development.

In 2018, David Lochridge, OceanGate’s director of marine operations, warned in a lawsuit that the company’s testing and certification process was inadequate and could expose passengers to potential extreme danger. This has sparked an ongoing debate about the safety of deep-water and recreational sea and space exploration, highlighting the inherent dangers despite modern technology.

This search operation has garnered international attention, with prayers and hopes for the safe return of the missing passengers coming from across the globe.

This report was compiled with contributions from Big Big News writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Missing Titanic-exploring Submersible Titan

More about Missing Titanic-exploring Submersible Titan

• OceanGate’s Official Website
• First Coast Guard District
• International Ice Patrol
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Systems Laboratory
• US Navy’s Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System
• Marine Technology Society
• Institute for Security Policy and Law at Syracuse University