US Coast Guard Reports Debris Near Titanic During Submersible Search

55

The search for a missing submersible carrying five individuals took a grim turn on Thursday as the US Coast Guard announced the discovery of a debris field near the Titanic wreck site. This development coincided with the passing of the critical 96-hour mark, beyond which the availability of breathable air would have been in jeopardy.

The Coast Guard’s Twitter post did not confirm any link between the found debris and the Titanic, which the submersible was exploring. The debris was located within the designated search area by a remotely operated underwater robot and is currently undergoing evaluation.

Although experts have stressed the imprecise nature of the original estimation, indicating that the breathable air supply could potentially last longer if passengers took measures to conserve it, the fate of the submersible and its occupants remains unknown since its disappearance.

Efforts to locate the missing submersible have mobilized rescue ships, planes, and various equipment. The US Coast Guard reported that a Canadian vessel’s undersea robot had reached the ocean floor, while a French research institute deployed a deep-diving robot equipped with cameras, lights, and manipulator arms.

Authorities hoped that underwater sounds might aid the search, leading to an expansion of the coverage area, which now spans thousands of miles, equivalent to twice the size of Connecticut, in waters as deep as 2.5 miles (4 kilometers). Underwater noises were detected within the search area on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Coast Guard officials.

Dr. Jamie Pringle, an expert in Forensic Geosciences at Keele University, highlighted the significance of the lack of oxygen, stating that even if the submersible is found, the challenge would be to reach the surface and recover it.

The Titan, which was on its way to the site where the Titanic sank over a century ago, was reported overdue on Sunday, approximately 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. OceanGate Expeditions, leading the expedition, has been documenting the decay of the Titanic and the surrounding underwater ecosystem through annual voyages since 2021.

By Thursday morning, hope was dwindling regarding the possibility of finding the submersible’s passengers alive.

Dr. Rob Larter, a marine geophysicist with the British Antarctic Survey, emphasized the difficulty of locating an object the size of the submersible, measuring around 22 feet (6.5 meters) in length and 9 feet (nearly 3 meters) in height, in pitch-dark environments. He likened it to finding a needle in a haystack without precise location information.

Newly emerged allegations suggest significant safety warnings were raised during the submersible’s development.

Broadcasters worldwide began reporting on the submersible at the critical hour on Thursday. Al Arabiya, a Saudi-owned satellite channel, aired a countdown clock, estimating the potential depletion of breathable air.

Captain Jamie Frederick of the First Coast Guard District emphasized that the mission remained a search-and-rescue operation. He expressed optimism about saving the five passengers onboard.

Retired Navy Capt. Carl Hartsfield, currently the director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Systems Laboratory, mentioned that the detected sounds were described as “banging noises.” However, he cautioned that the search teams needed to consider the context and eliminate potential man-made sources other than the Titan. Frederick admitted that authorities were uncertain about the origin of the sounds.

The reported sounds offered some encouragement to experts since submarine crews, unable to communicate with the surface, are taught to make noise by striking the submersible’s hull, enabling detection through sonar.

The US Navy announced its plans to deploy a specialized salvage system capable of hoisting large underwater objects, such as aircraft or small vessels. The Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System, capable of lifting up to 60,000 pounds (27,200 kilograms), will be utilized. The Titan weighs 20,000 pounds (9,000 kilograms), as indicated by the Navy.

Among the missing are pilot Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, along with British adventurer Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman, and French explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch expressed confidence in the search efforts and refrained from speculating on the circumstances of the incident, respecting the Dawood family’s privacy.

OceanGate had successfully carried 46 people to the Titanic wreck site in 2021 and 2022, according to documents filed with a US District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, overseeing matters related to the Titanic shipwreck.

One of the company’s customers described his dive to the site two years ago as a challenging endeavor, comparing it to a “kamikaze operation.” The cramped conditions, lack of space to stand or kneel, and the reliance on fluorescent glow sticks for illumination made the experience arduous. The dive, plagued by battery and balancing weight issues, lasted a total of 10.5 hours, with lights turned off during the descent and ascent to conserve energy.

Nick Rotker, who leads underwater research at the nonprofit company MITRE, emphasized the need for increased underwater robots and remotely operated underwater vehicles in the United States, underlining the challenges faced during the search for the Titan.

Nicolai Roterman, a deep-sea ecologist and marine biology lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, emphasized the risks and uncertainties associated with deep-sea tourism, citing the Titan’s disappearance as a stark reminder. He anticipated a rise in similar incidents as deep-sea tourism expands.

---

Contributors to this report include 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about submersible search

More about submersible search

• U.S. Coast Guard – Official website of the U.S. Coast Guard.
• OceanGate Expeditions – Official website of OceanGate Expeditions, leading the trip to explore the Titanic wreckage.
• Keele University – Official website of Keele University, where Dr. Jamie Pringle, an expert in Forensic Geosciences, is affiliated.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Systems Laboratory – Official website of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Systems Laboratory, directed by Retired Navy Capt. Carl Hartsfield.
• Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System – Information about the specialized salvage system used by the U.S. Navy for lifting large underwater objects.
• MITRE – Official website of MITRE, a nonprofit research and development company mentioned in relation to underwater research.
• University of Portsmouth – Official website of the University of Portsmouth, where Nicolai Roterman, a deep-sea ecologist and marine biology lecturer, is affiliated.