OceanGate Expeditions says it is mobilizing all options to bring its crew back safely after the submersible the company uses to explore the Titanic wreck site two miles below the ocean surface went missing.
The US Coast Guard in Boston says an operation is underway to find the submersible and the search will continue throughout the night. Rear Admiral with the U.S. Coast Guard, John Mauger, says they are doing everything they can to locate the missing vessel, with numerous American and Canadian aircraft conducting aerial searches.
In addition to specialized aircraft designed for submersible searches, they have also dropped a number of sonar buoys in the search area.
In a statement, OceanGate says its entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families, and they are “deeply thankful” for the extensive assistance they have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in their efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible.
The family of United Kingdom billionaire Hamish Harding has confirmed that he is on board the vessel. It is also believed OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and a number of crewmembers are onboard.
Rush told VOCM News at the time that the submersible, which can take up to five people, has enough resources to sustain life for several days.
(OceanGate Inc. Founder and CEO Stockton Rush)
There are four days of life support on the sub according to Stockton Rush. He indicated that there are tanks of oxygen and carbon monoxide scrubbers and plenty of ways to get back to the surface. “You want to make sure that the pressure vessel does not collapse, and then you can clean the environment inside, and then you want to make sure you’ve got lots of ways to get to the surface. So if you can make sure the thing doesn’t collapse, and you can get to the surface, then everything else doesn’t matter.”
He also indicated that the submersible is designed to be quiet moving through the water.
Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services, which owns and operates the Polar Prince which serves as a support vessel for OceanGate, tells VOCM News it is doing what it can to support the search and rescue effort and is working closely with authorities.
