A British billionaire was aboard a submersible vessel that has disappeared while on an expedition to view the wreckage of the RMS Titanic.
The vessel operated by OceanGate Expeditions was diving to view the remains of the passenger liner, which sank in 1912, when contact was lost. Hamish Harding, an adventurer and aviation executive was on board, according to Action Aviation, the Dubai-based aircraft brokerage he chairs.
Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard, said a search operation had been launched 900 miles off the coast of Cape Cod at a depth of about 13,000 feet.
The operation is being conducted in co-ordination with Canadian authorities as well as commercial craft in the area, making use of aircraft and surface vessels as well as sonar buoys.
“It is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area,” Mauger said at a press conference. “But we are deploying all available assets to ensure that we can locate the craft and rescue the people on board.”
The submersible vessel, known as Titan, lost contact with Canadian research vessel MV Polar Prince on Sunday morning, with five people on board, including the pilot.
OceanGate on Monday said it was “exploring and mobilising all options to bring the crew back safely”.
“Our entire focus is on the crew members in the submersible and their families,” OceanGate added. “We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible.”
The vessel has 96 hours of “sustainment capability” in case of an emergency, according to Mauger, who said there was now somewhere between 70 and 96 hours remaining. The search operation is set to be expanded in the coming days.
Harding holds a number of aviation world records and has travelled twice to the South Pole, once with astronaut with Buzz Aldrin. He also travelled to space in 2022 onboard the New Shepard space craft operated by Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin.
OceanGate organises expeditions lasting eight days to view the wreckage of the Titanic, which sits about 380 miles off the coast of Newfoundland and 3,800 metres below the ocean surface.
The company advertises the trip as an opportunity “to see the Titanic with your own eyes” while also supporting the scientific community in learning more about the wreck and the deep ocean environment. Fewer than 300 people have taken the tour.
Expeditions cost $250,000, according to the company. OceanGate said on its website its 2023 tour was “under way”, with two more tours planned for 2024.
The RMS Titanic sank on April 15 1912 after colliding with an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton in the UK to New York. More than 1,500 people died in the accident.
The tragedy has been a source of intrigue globally ever since, with a 1997 Hollywood film rekindling interest.
OceanGate was founded in Everett, Washington, in 2009 by entrepreneur Stockton Rush. It operates several surveys and tourist expeditions.
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