Image released by the US Coast Guard as they search for the Titan submersible. Photograph: US Coast Guard.
A tragic end to the search for the missing Titanic sub.
Rear Adm John Mauger, commander of the First Coast Guard District, stated that the tail cone of the sub was discovered by a remotely operated vehicle approximately on the seafloor.
The debris found indicates a severe failure of the pressure chamber. “Upon this assessment, we promptly informed the families on behalf of the United States Coast Guard and the entire unified command. I extend my sincerest condolences to the grieving families,”.
All five passengers on the missing Titanic sub are dead or as the operators put it “have sadly been lost,”.
The vessel was owned by OceanGate Expeditions, they’ve been studying the wreckage of the Titanic for the last couple of years.
Investigation
The Transportation and Safety Board of Canada has opened an investigation to the role the Polar Prince played in the implosion of the submersible.
They say the Canadian cargo vessel was at the wreck site providing surface support.
The Five people from the Polar Prince were on board the sub, before descending to the Titanic wreckage.
The investigation will look into circumstances of the operation conducted by the Polar Prince.
It is assumed the Titan imploded after debris was found near the wreckage site, killing all five onboard.
US Navy Hears Implosion
Officials from the U.S. Navy say they heard sounds that sounded like ‘an anomaly consistent with an implosion’ Sunday. It was around the time that the sub went missing. According to multiple reports, they say their acoustic sensors picked up on the sound. However, the navy says the sounds were not definitive and the decision was made to continue with the search and rescue mission.
OceanGate Statement
“We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost,” OceanGate Expeditions wrote in a statement. “ These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans. This is an extremely sad time for our dedicated employees who are exhausted and grieving deeply over this loss. We appreciate their commitment to finding these five explorers, and their days and nights of tireless work in support of our crew and their families.”
The debris field was first spotted early midday on Thursday as the search for the sub stretched into day four.
A multi-national rescue mission has been ongoing since Sunday.
That’s when communication was lost with the five people inside the OceanGate Expeditions sub.
Experts believe the submersible imploded and broke into pieces under the immense pressure of the ocean.
“This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community, and for each of the family members of those lost at sea. We respectfully ask that the privacy of these families be respected during this most painful time.”
Comments