The co-founder of OceanGate, the company operating the submersible, stated that the search for the missing submersible in the North Atlantic Ocean has reached a crucial stage. Guillermo Sohnlein emphasized that the sub’s life support supplies are running low, making the current day critical for the search and rescue mission. Sohnlein expressed his belief that the crew recognized the need to conserve supplies by relaxing, extending the potential rescue time beyond what most people anticipate.
As we previously posted on The Yucatan Times, a submarine used to take tourists to see the remains of the Titanic had disappeared.
The submersible, named Titan, embarks on each exploration of the Titanic wreckage with approximately 96 hours of life support. With diminishing oxygen levels, the search effort has intensified. The US Coast Guard’s Northeast District reported that a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and equipment from various sources are now deployed to locate the submersible on the sea floor. Aircraft are scanning a search area twice the size of Connecticut and as deep as 2 1/2 miles. Medical personnel and a hyperbaric chamber are en route to the site.
Despite the increasingly bleak situation, the search teams maintain hope. Banging noises detected underwater raised hopes for survivors, although their origin remains unclear. If survivors are indeed present, they would have limited rations aboard the 21-foot submersible, which lacks space for passengers to stretch out.
US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger expressed the importance of considering people’s will to live and continuing rescue efforts. Oceanographer David Gallo acknowledged the need for a miracle but emphasized that miracles can happen.
The submersible lost contact with its mother ship during its dive to explore the Titanic wreckage. The five passengers on board include the CEO of OceanGate, three wealthy explorers, and an experienced French deep-sea diver.
The expedition highlights the enduring fascination with the Titanic’s wreckage and represents the growing trend of adventure tourism among the wealthy. However, OceanGate’s safety approach has faced renewed criticism from employees and industry leaders.
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