Search for Missing Submersible Near Titanic Intensifies Amidst Underwater Noises

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In the midst of a frantic search operation for a submersible that disappeared while carrying five individuals to explore the Titanic wreckage, Canadian military surveillance aircraft have detected underwater noises in the remote North Atlantic area.

The U.S. Coast Guard, without providing further details, acknowledged the discovery of these sounds, offering a glimmer of hope for the missing individuals aboard the submersible known as the Titan. Estimates indicate that there might be as little as a day’s worth of oxygen remaining if the vessel is still operational.

However, reaching the lost submersible, potentially lying as deep as 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) near the underwater tomb of the historic ocean liner, poses significant challenges. Additionally, recent revelations suggest serious safety concerns surrounding the vessel during its development.

Among the passengers lost aboard the submersible are Stockton Rush, the CEO of the expedition-leading company, a British adventurer, two members of a Pakistani business family, and a Titanic expert.

According to a statement by the Coast Guard on Twitter, a Canadian P-3 Orion aircraft detected underwater noises in the designated search area. As a result, search teams deployed an underwater robot to investigate. However, these efforts have yielded no positive results thus far, though the search continues.

“The data from the P-3 aircraft has been shared with our U.S. Navy experts for further analysis, which will be taken into account in future search plans,” stated the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard’s statement followed a report from Rolling Stone, citing internal emails from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security related to the search, which mentioned hearing banging sounds in the area every 30 minutes.

In underwater emergencies, crews unable to communicate with the surface often resort to banging on the hull of their submersible to be detected by sonar. However, no official has publicly suggested this scenario, and underwater noises can originate from various sources.

Nevertheless, these reports have sparked hope among some individuals, including Richard Garriott de Cayeux, the president of The Explorers Club. In an open letter to the adventurers associated with his club, including the missing British man and the Titanic expert aboard the Titan, Garriott expressed increased confidence following discussions with officials from Congress, the U.S. military, and the White House regarding the ongoing search.

To aid in the search efforts, three C-17 transport planes from the U.S. military have transported commercial submersibles and support equipment from Buffalo, New York, to St. John’s, Newfoundland. The Canadian military has also contributed a patrol aircraft, two surface ships, and sonar buoys for detecting any sounds from the Titan. One of the ships specializes in dive medicine.

Rescuers are racing against time, as even under the most favorable circumstances, the vessel could deplete its oxygen supply by Thursday morning.

In addition to the international fleet of ships and aircraft involved in the search, an underwater robot has begun scouring the vicinity of the Titanic wreckage, while salvage equipment is being prepared in case the submersible is located.

The search operation was launched after authorities reported the submersible, made of carbon fiber, overdue on Sunday night. The search area is located approximately 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s.

According to David Concannon, an advisor to OceanGate Expeditions, the organization overseeing the mission, the submersible had a four-day oxygen supply when it departed around 6 a.m. on Sunday. CBS News journalist David Pogue, who traveled on the Titan to the Titanic last year, revealed that the vehicle utilizes two communication systems: text messages exchanged with a surface ship and safety pings emitted every 15 minutes to indicate its operational status.

Both systems ceased functioning approximately an hour and 45 minutes after the Titan submerged.

“Only two possibilities exist. Either they lost all power, or the ship experienced a catastrophic hull breach and instant implosion. Both scenarios are devastatingly hopeless,” Pogue stated in an interview with the Canadian CBC network.

The submersible was equipped with seven backup systems for resurfacing, including sandbags, lead pipes that detach, and an inflatable balloon. One system is designed to function even if all individuals on board are unconscious.

Meanwhile, documents have surfaced suggesting that OceanGate had been cautioned about potential safety issues surrounding the development of the experimental vessel. In a 2018 lawsuit, David Lochridge, OceanGate’s director of marine operations, stated that the company’s testing and certification were inadequate and could expose passengers to extreme danger in the submersible.

OceanGate maintains that Lochridge, who is not an engineer, was not involved in the vessel’s engineering and that the vessel being developed was a prototype, distinct from the missing Titan. The Marine Technology Society, a professional group of ocean engineers, also expressed concerns in a letter to Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s CEO, emphasizing the importance of subjecting the prototype to tests overseen by an expert third party before launching to ensure passenger safety. These documents were initially reported by The New York Times.

The search for the missing submersible has garnered global attention. Crown Prince Hamadan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of Dubai, where the missing British adventurer resides, expressed prayers and hopes for the safe return of those involved.

Additionally, employees at Shahzada Dawood’s companies in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, as well as government officials, offered prayers for the safe return of Shahzada and his son Suleman, whose investment firm operates nationwide. Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a French explorer and Titanic expert, was also on board the vessel.

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Contributors to this report: Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.