NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA: The extensive search for the missing OceanGate submersible has reportedly entered a critical stage with just a few hours of oxygen left onboard. The submersible, named Titan, lost communication with its mothership MV Polar Prince after 4 am on Sunday, June 18, when it was taking a team of five people to view the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada.
The vessel is believed to have one crew member and four other passengers on board, including British billionaire Hamish Harding, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Pakistan millionaire Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman. A countdown has now begun with the vital oxygen supply expected to run out at around 1 pm UK time on Thursday, June 22, a US Coast Guard spokesperson told The Independent. This estimated time is based on the amount of oxygen the vessel had for the five passengers—96 hours—and the time it went underwater.
How many times has the Titan explored the Titanic wreckage?
The Titan has made three journeys to the Titanic so far since 2021. The trip, which costs around $250,000 per head, is meant to be an annual occasion that allows visitors to get an up-close view of the ship's wreckage. According to OceanGate, the Titan has carried out more than 50 test dives, including one to depths comparable to those of the Titanic, in both pressure chambers and the waters off the Bahamas. However, the Titan experienced problems on prior voyages as well, raising questions about the safety of the submersible.
David Pogue, who traveled aboard the missing submersible in 2022, previously revealed that the vessel lost communication with the main ship for two-and-a-half hours during his trip. Later, in an interview, he challenged the OceanGate CEO, saying, "It seems like this submersible has some elements of MacGyver jerry-riggedness." Following Pogue’s revelation, several experts raised concerns regarding Titan’s insufficient “quality control and safety” procedures. It also came to light that the Titan had faced technical issues and mishaps on at least six previous occasions before it went missing over the weekend.
The desperate search for the Titan
The desperate search for the Titan has entered a critical stage. Aircraft fitted with sonar, various sea vessels and deep-sea exploration tools have been deployed in a last-ditch attemot coordinated by the US, Canada and France among others to find the submersible. A French research ship equipped with an unmanned robot, capable of reaching large depths, also arrived near the wreck of the Titanic to join the desperate search operation. Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick previously noted that the search efforts would not let up despite less oxygen on the vessel. "When you're in the middle of a search-and-rescue case, you always have hope,” he reportedly said at a press conference.
