On Monday, the US Coast Guard in Boston and Canadian rescue teams began searching for a submersible which was carrying five people to the wreckage site of the Titanic.
The submarine was reported missing on Sunday night, located 435 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Rear Admiral John Mauger, commander of the First Coast Guard District, reported two aircrafts from both the US and Canada were searching the area, along with a commercial ship.
The location, 900 miles east of Cape Cod and up to 13,000 feet deep, makes the task of finding the vessel difficult, as the search must take place both on the surface and beneath the water.
The submersible, named “Titan,” left St. John’s on Sunday morning, however the vessel lost contact with the Polar Prince, the Canadian ship which was supporting the watercraft, about an hour and 45 minutes later. The vehicle belongs to OceanGate Expeditions, a Washington-based deep-sea exploration company. The company’s expeditions to the Titanic wreckage include archaeologists and marine biologists, as well as people who pay to come along, known as “mission specialists.” According to the Coast Guard, the submersible had one pilot and four “mission specialists” on board.
In response to the search, OceanGate expressed gratitude for the help they have received from various government agencies and deep sea companies, and stated that they are “working toward the safe return of the crewmembers.” Furthermore, Rear Admiral Mauger noted the submersible has a 96-hour emergency sustainment capability, including oxygen and fuel, which means it has between 70 and 96 hours of survivability.