An extensive search led by the US Coast Guard for the missing OceanGate submersible the Titan has so far failed to turn up any sign of the tiny vessel.
Five people are on board the 21-foot submersible, which lost contact with the surface while on its descent to the Titanic wreck site Sunday morning with five people on board.
(Titan Submarine via OceanGate website.)
The five occupants have been identified as OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, UK billionaire Hamish Harding, French submersible pilot, Paul-Henri Nargeolet and UK-based Pakistani businessman 48-year-old Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
US Coast Guard spokesperson, Captain James Frederick provided an update to reporters in Boston this afternoon. He says extensive resources have joined the search including Canadian Coast Guard air and marine resources and private vessels.
As a result, the staging area has formally moved from Boston to St. John’s.
Technip FMC’s vessel the Deep Energy arrived on location this morning to help the Titan’s support ship the Polar Prince. The total search area completed as of this morning according to the US Coast Guard was 10,000 square miles.
Captain Frederick told reporters the search is a complex one, requiring multiple agencies with subject expertise and specialized equipment. The US Coast Guard does not have all the expertise and equipment necessary, and they’ve brought in a Unified Command to bring together the necessary expertise and “solve this very complex problem.”
Buoys with underwater sonar capability have also been launched in the search area to help locate the submersible.
Captain Frederick could not offer assurance that even if the submersible is found by an ROV, that the passengers on board can be saved.
He was responding to direct questions from reporters gathered in Boston.
He says every effort is being made to rescue the people involved, and says next steps will be determined by what, if anything, the ROV happens to find.
Fair Search Conditions at Search Site
(Via OceanGate)
Weather conditions at the search site are fair with moderate west to northwesterly winds of up to 20 knots.
Environment Canada meteorologist David Neil says they don’t have a lot in terms of observations from the site, winds will pick up somewhat this evening. He says visibility in the general area is fair, with the possibility of some fog patches. He says winds could pick up to about 25 knots this evening, and if there is fog in the area that should clear out a bit through the evening.
France Joins Search
(Titan Submarine via OceanGate.)
The French ship, Atalante is diverting to the search site at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The ship has an exploration robot that can dive up to 4000 metres.
The Titanic wreck is approximately 13,000 feet underwater.
The Atalante is expected to arrive at the scene this evening.
