The deep-sea craft carrying five people to the Titanic wreckage

A rescue operation is underway in the Atlantic Ocean to locate a technologically advanced submersible vessel carrying five people on a mission to document the wreckage of the Titanic. 

 

 

The ship was reported overdue on Sunday, approximately 435 miles (700 kilometres) south of St. John's, Newfoundland. The search effort is being led by the U.S. Coast Guard in Boston, with assistance from a Canadian Coast Guard vessel and military aircraft.

 

 

The submersible, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, submerged on Sunday morning, and contact was lost with its support vessel, the Canadian research icebreaker Polar Prince, about an hour and 45 minutes later. The search and rescue teams are deploying all available assets to locate the craft and rescue the individuals on board. Additional resources are expected to arrive in the coming days to aid in the operation.

 

 

The submersible had a 96-hour oxygen supply, starting from Sunday morning. Efforts are being made to send a remotely operated vehicle capable of reaching the depth of the site to assist with the rescue mission. OceanGate's expeditions to the Titanic wreck site involve archaeologists, marine biologists, and mission specialists who pay to participate in the exploration.

 

 

The rescue operation focuses on locating the submersible and ensuring the safety of those on board. The deteriorating condition of the Titanic wreckage, which sank in 1912, has been studied during OceanGate's annual voyages. The submersible, Titan, is designed to dive to a depth of 4,000 meters (13,120 feet) and is equipped with advanced technology to provide a view of the deep ocean.

 

 

Rescuers face significant challenges in the operation, including the remote location and the depth at which the submersible may be located. The availability of vessels and divers capable of reaching such depths is limited, and options for retrieval may be challenging. The situation remains ongoing, and efforts are being made to locate and rescue the individuals on board the submersible.