Search for Missing Sub Passes Critical 96-hour Mark
The search for the missing submersible on an expedition to explore the wreckage of the Titanic has reached a critical stage as the 96-hour mark approached. This marked the time when the breathable air supply on board the submersible was expected to run out, making it a crucial moment in the race to save the five individuals trapped inside.
When the Titan submersible launched in the North Atlantic on Sunday morning, it was estimated to have a 96-hour air supply. Based on the information provided by the U.S. Coast Guard and the expedition company, the deadline to find and rescue the submersible fell between 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT) and 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT).
Experts noted that the duration could potentially be extended if the passengers had taken measures to conserve breathable air. However, their survival remains unknown since the submersible vanished on Sunday morning.
Frank Owen, an expert in submarine search-and-rescue operations, explained that the oxygen supply figure serves as a useful target for the search efforts but is based on a nominal amount of consumption. Owen suggested that the diver on board the Titan would likely advise the passengers to reduce their metabolic levels to extend the air supply.
In an urgent and international mission, rescuers deployed additional ships and vessels to the site of the disappearance. They hoped that underwater sounds detected for two consecutive days would aid in narrowing down the search area. The coverage area has been expanded to thousands of miles, twice the size of Connecticut, in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep.
The Titan was reported overdue on Sunday afternoon, around 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland, on its way to the location where the Titanic sank more than a century ago. Since 2021, OceanGate Expeditions, an undersea exploration company, has been conducting annual voyages to document the decay of the Titanic and the underwater ecosystem surrounding it.
By Thursday morning, hope was diminishing that anyone on board the submersible would be found alive. Numerous obstacles still stood in the way of the rescue mission, including pinpointing the submersible’s location, reaching it with rescue equipment, and safely bringing it to the surface, assuming it remained intact. All of this needed to be accomplished before the passengers’ oxygen supply ran out.
Captain Jamie Frederick of the First Coast Guard District expressed the authorities’ continued hope to save the five passengers on board, emphasizing that this was a search-and-rescue mission without a doubt. However, the search was further complicated by the challenging environment in the North Atlantic area where the Titan disappeared, known for fog and stormy conditions.
In the midst of the crisis, allegations have emerged regarding significant safety warnings raised during the development of the submersible. The exact location and source of the detected sounds have yet to be determined, but the description of “banging noises” has encouraged some experts, as submariners are trained to make such sounds on their submersible’s hull to be detected by sonar.
The U.S. Navy announced that it would be sending a specialized salvage system capable of lifting heavy undersea objects to assist in the search efforts. The Titan weighs 20,000 pounds (9,071 kilograms), while the Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System is designed to lift up to 60,000 pounds (27,216 kilograms), according to the Navy.
Among the individuals lost on the submersible are British adventurer Hamish Harding; Pakistani nationals Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, whose eponymous firm invests across the country; and French explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
OceanGate Expeditions has faced criticism for the use of a commercially available video game controller to steer the Titan, although the company has defended its choice.
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