Operations are underway to find a tourist submarine visiting the wreck of the titanic. THE Titanwhich has not been heard from since Sunday morning, is believed to be 700 kilometers south of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The craft has five people on board, the United States Coast Guard confirmed Monday afternoon.
British billionaire Hamish Harding is one of the expedition members. His family confirmed his presence in the submarine. Mr. Harding is used to thrills. Aviator, explorer and space tourist, the 58-year-old wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday that “due to Newfoundland’s worst winter in 40 years, this mission is surely the first and only assignment to the titanic in 2023″, mentioning in passing that a “weather window had just opened” to launch the expedition.
PHOTO FROM HAMISH HARDING’S TWITTER ACCOUNT
Hamish Harding
Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who made more than 30 expeditions to titanic, is also on board, according to Mr. Harding. However, his presence has not yet been confirmed by his relatives.
The research vessel Polar Prince escorted the submarine back to the site over the wreckage of the titanic. According to Hamish Harding, the Titan was due to dive at 4 a.m. on Sunday. THE Polar Prince would have lost contact with the submarine 1 h 45 min later. But it wasn’t until 9:13 p.m. that the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Halifax declared the submarine missing.
The submarine’s oxygen reserves Titan can last up to 96 hours for five people. The US Coast Guard estimated 70 hours were left as of 4:30 p.m. Monday. The oxygen tank should therefore be empty Thursday around 2:30 p.m.
The Canadian Coast Guard declined to comment on the rescue mission. “The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Boston is coordinating the response in this case,” Canadian Coast Guard communications advisor Janet Kelly told The Press.
Canada, however, sent a boat and plane to help find the submarine.
Outrageously expensive shipments
It is OceanGate Expeditions which organizes expeditions to the wreck of the titanic, at 3800 meters in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The cost of a ticket on board the Titan is $250,000.
The company assured Monday afternoon that its priority was to find the members of the expedition.
We are exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely.
Excerpt from an OceanGate Expeditions press release issued Monday afternoon
OceanGate Expeditions arranges trips to the titanic since 2021. Qualified explorers who take out the checkbook can participate in the expeditions.
PHOTO DARRYL DYCK, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
THE Polar Prince docked in Vancouver, October 2017
The journey of Titan started in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. From this place, the Polar Prince escorted him back over the wreckage of the titanic, before the submarine heads for the depths to allow its passengers to watch the mythical boat. The sea dive lasts six to eight hours.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey wrote on his Twitter account that he “hopes the US Coast Guard will spot the submarine and those in it very soon.”
The Press contacted United States Coast Guard and OceanGate Expeditions, with no success.
THE titanic was shipwrecked in the Atlantic Ocean on the night of April 14–15, 1912. About 1,500 people perished, two-thirds of those on board. The wreckage of the ship was found in 1985. Since then, the place has been popular with divers and tourists.