Tragic Discovery: Tracing the Journey of the Titan Submersible

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The depths of the ocean hold the wrecks of two legendary vessels, the Titanic and the Titan. Resting on the ocean floor, separated by 1,600 feet (490 meters) and 111 years of history, the story of their convergence unfolded over a gripping week, filled with fleeting hope and lingering uncertainties.

Building Up to the Expedition

Setting sail from Newfoundland on Friday, June 16, the Canadian icebreaker ship, Polar Prince, embarked on its mission. Towing the experimental Titan submersible and carrying a five-man team, the vessel aimed to explore the haunting resting place of the iconic ocean liner. Previous attempts by other teams had been thwarted by inclement weather over the past four weeks, but the OceanGate Expeditions group remained optimistic.

Renowned adventurer Hamish Harding shared their anticipation on Instagram, announcing, “A weather window has just opened up, and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow. More expedition updates to follow IF the weather holds!”

Descending into the Abyss

Before boarding the Titan submersible, the team transferred to the launch and recovery platform using one of two inflatable dinghies named Stewie and Max. Once inside the submersible, they found themselves on a platform, with their legs crossed or extended.

Describing the cramped quarters, Weissmann remarked, “You could not be in that thing if you’re claustrophobic. It’s literally like being in a tin can because it’s got rounded sides.”

At 8 a.m. EDT on Sunday, the Titan began its descent, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard. OceanGate, in their expedition advertisements, had tantalizingly stated, “Once the submersible is launched, you will begin to see alien-like lifeforms whizz by the viewport as you sink deeper and deeper into the ocean. The descent takes approximately two hours but it feels like the blink of an eye.”

However, around 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, communication with the Polar Prince was lost, leaving the vessel submerged and out of reach.

The Frantic Search

By 5:40 p.m., nearly three hours after the Titan’s expected resurfacing time and eight hours since the last contact, the Polar Prince notified the U.S. Coast Guard of the vessel’s overdue status. This triggered an intense international search and rescue operation.

Analyzing acoustic data, the U.S. Navy discovered an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion in the vicinity of the Titan submersible’s last known location. Although the Navy shared this information with the Coast Guard on Sunday, they did not consider it definitive, prompting the Coast Guard to continue the search. This revelation was not disclosed to the public and came from a senior Navy official speaking anonymously to The Big Big News about sensitive technology.

As the days progressed, the search effort grew. On Monday afternoon, a C-130 Hercules aircraft from North Carolina and a Canadian P8 aircraft equipped with underwater sonar joined the operation. Tuesday brought improved weather and visibility, resulting in the search coverage of 10,000 square miles (25,900 square kilometers).

On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, sonar equipment picked up banging noises, sparking hope that the crew of the Titan may still be alive.

Captain Jamie Frederick of the First Coast Guard District addressed the ongoing rescue efforts at a news conference, stating, “We are smack dab in the middle of search and rescue, and we’ll continue to put every available asset that we have in an effort to find the Titan and the crew members.”

By that point, search teams had combed an area twice the size of Connecticut in waters reaching 2½ miles (4 kilometers) deep. Additional resources, including multiple remote-operated vehicles, a salvage system for recovering heavy objects from the seabed, and a mobile hyperbaric recompression chamber, were en route. Time was running out, with the submersible carrying only enough air to last until the following morning.

The Heartbreaking Discovery

Thursday morning brought a somber revelation as a robotic vehicle unearthed the tail cone of the Titan on the ocean floor. Subsequently, the front and back ends of the hull were also located.

Rear Adm. John Mauger of the First Coast Guard District described the findings, stating, “The debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber.”

Prior to the expedition, OceanGate had prepared participants for their resurfacing experience, stating on their website, “Once on deck, you will be welcomed back by the expedition crew and be able to share the story of your incredible accomplishment.” The company had already scheduled dates for a 2024 expedition.

However, on this fateful Thursday, OceanGate issued a statement mourning the lives lost, including their CEO and pilot Stockton Rush. Alongside Rush and Harding, the other individuals on board were Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood.

OceanGate expressed their grief, remarking, “These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans. We grieve the loss of life and the joy they brought to everyone they knew.”

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