- Our hearts are with every member of their families, says OceanGate.
- The submersible lost contact on Sunday morning with its support ship.
- Rescue teams from several countries had spent days searching open seas.
No Survivors Found
No Survivors Found: Tragedy struck as a Coast Guard official announced the heartbreaking loss of the five individuals aboard a missing submersible. Described as a “catastrophic” event, this grim conclusion marks the end of an extensive search for the vessel that vanished during a daring expedition to the depths of the Titanic’s resting place.
In a heartfelt statement, OceanGate Expeditions paid tribute to these brave explorers, highlighting their unwavering spirit of adventure and profound dedication to the exploration and preservation of the world’s oceans. At this sorrowful time, our thoughts are with the five souls who perished and their bereaved families.
A remarkable discovery unfolded as an unmanned deep-sea robot, deployed from a Canadian ship, unveiled the wreckage of the submersible. The solemn revelation occurred on Thursday morning, approximately 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the century-old wreck, resting an astonishing 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface. Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard shared this significant finding during a press conference, shedding light on the tragic incident.
Titanic Sub Found with No Survivors
Rear Admiral John Mauger somberly stated that the remnants discovered are indicative of a devastating loss in the pressure chamber. Numerous international rescue teams have tirelessly combed thousands of square miles of vast open seas using planes and ships, in hopes of uncovering any trace of the 22-foot (6.7-meter) Titan. This submersible, operated by the esteemed OceanGate Expeditions based in the United States, tragically vanished without a trace.
During what was meant to be a routine two-hour descent, the submersible abruptly lost contact with its support ship on Sunday morning, a mere hour and 45 minutes into the expedition. Among the five individuals aboard were remarkable figures such as British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani-born business magnate Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, both British citizens; distinguished French oceanographer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who possessed an extensive history of visits to the wreckage site; and Stockton Rush, the visionary American founder and chief executive of OceanGate, who personally piloted the ill-fated submersible.
A glimmer of hope emerged when sonar buoys, deployed from Canadian aircraft, detected underwater sounds on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The tantalizing possibility arose that the individuals within the submersible were still alive, attempting to communicate by tapping on the hull. However, officials cautioned that the analysis of the sounds remained inconclusive, casting doubt on whether they originated from the Titan at all.
Even if the Titan managed to endure, the air supply on board was estimated to last only 96 hours from the moment it submerged on Sunday at approximately 8 a.m. (1200 GMT). This unfortunate timeline meant that by Thursday morning, the occupants would likely have depleted their oxygen reserves.
Resting approximately 900 miles (1,450 km) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 400 miles (640 km) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland, the Titanic met its tragic fate in 1912 during its inaugural voyage, claiming the lives of over 1,500 individuals. Since 2021, OceanGate has been conducting expeditions to explore this historic wreckage, with each participant investing $250,000, as stated on OceanGate’s website.
Concerns regarding the safety of the Titan arose in 2018, triggering discussions among experts in the submersible industry. Additionally, a lawsuit filed by OceanGate’s former head of marine operations, which was resolved later that same year, further raised questions regarding the vessel’s reliability.
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The sweeping search covered more than 10,000 square miles of ocean – about the size of the US state of Massachusetts. On Thursday, the deployment of two specialised deep-sea unmanned vehicles expanded the effort to the ocean’s depths, where immense pressure and pitch-black darkness had promised to complicate any rescue mission.
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The missing submersible and subsequent hunt captured worldwide attention, in part due to the mythology surrounding the Titanic. The “unsinkable” British passenger liner has inspired both nonfiction and fiction accounts for a century, including the James Cameron blockbuster 1998 movie, which rekindled popular interest in the story.