A deep-sea submersible touring the underwater wreckage of the Titanic has vanished off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. OceanGate Expeditions operates the vessel, which was carrying five people when it lost contact around an hour and 45 minutes after submerging on Sunday morning.
The submersible, named Titan, carries a 96-hour oxygen supply. In response to the disappearance, the United States Coast Guard, in coordination with the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces, immediately launched a search and rescue operation.
Reports emerged Tuesday morning from the search area of sonar picking up ‘banging’ noises. However, despite these detections, the source of the sound remains undiscovered. Operations involving remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have failed to locate the origin of the sound but continue in their efforts.
International exploration company, Magellan, which digitally mapped the Titanic wreckage last year, has mobilized in readiness to support the search. Upon learning of the incident, Magellan offered their site-specific knowledge and depth-operating expertise to the operation.
Despite complications surrounding the required permits for participation, Magellan has worked relentlessly with U.K. and U.S. agencies to secure necessary air support, facilitating the mobilization of their specialist equipment and support crew.
However, the missing Titan has previously been subject to controversy. A 2018 counterclaim lawsuit from former OceanGate employee, David Lochridge, alleged his termination was due to voicing concerns over potential flaws in Titan’s design and testing. OceanGate has refuted these allegations, accusing Lochridge of contract breach, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
As the search continues, the priority remains to locate the missing submersible and ensure the safety of all passengers onboard.
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