An expert on the sinking of the Titanic and experienced submersible diver expressed hope on Monday for a successful outcome in the search for a missing tourist submarine exploring the site.
Larry Daley is a Titanic historian who once spent 12 hours visiting a submarine wreck. He said he was “hopeful” for the missing vessel because of the high-tech equipment that can keep passengers alive for several hours.
A submarine on a sightseeing expedition to explore the wreckage of the Titanic has gone missing off the southeast coast of Canada, according to the private company that operates the vessel.
OceanGate Expeditions said in a brief statement on Monday that it was “mobilizing all options” to rescue people aboard the ship. It was not immediately clear how many people were missing.
The US Coast Guard launched a search and rescue operation on Monday. The company conducting the voyage, Oceangate Expeditions, said it was “exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely.”
“Our entire focus is on the submersible vehicle crew and their families. We are deeply grateful for the extensive assistance we have received from various government agencies and offshore companies in our efforts to re-establish contact with the submersible,” the group said.
The submarine holds up to five people, the company says on its website. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board.
historic shipwreck
The Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in April 1912, killing more than 1,500 people. The wreckage of the Titanic, discovered in 1985, lies in two parts on the ocean floor, about 13,000 feet below the surface, southeast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland.
More recently, expensive private tours have been offered to tourists, allowing people to see the wreck up close.
An archived version of the OceanGate website, accessible through the Wayback Machine, shows what passengers can spend up to US$250,000 on the trip.
“Follow in the footsteps of Jacques Cousteau and become an underwater explorer — starting with a dive in the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. This is your chance to step out of everyday life and discover something truly extraordinary.” “Become one of the few to see the Titanic with your own eyes,” he adds.
The eight-day expedition is based in the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The voyage begins with a journey of 400 nautical miles to the wreck site.
There, up to five people, including a pilot, a “content expert” and three paying passengers, board the submersible “Titan” and descend to the bottom of the ocean.
“Once the submersible is launched, you’ll start to see life forms whirring through the viewport as you sink deeper and deeper into the ocean. The descent takes approximately two hours, but it feels like the blink of an eye,” the website said.
(Published by Fábio Mendes, with information from CNN and Reuters)
Source: CNN Brasil
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