22 JUNE, 2023
Ayaan Paul Chowdhury
Photo: OceanGate
Rescuers are still searching for the submersible named Titan that went missing during a dive to the Titanic shipwreck. Here's all that you need to know so far...
The mission to the Titanic is part of OceanGate's efforts to develop crewed submersibles capable of reaching depths of 4,000 metres and 6,000 metres.
Photo: OceanGate
Photo: OceanGate
The Titan was part of an expedition operated by OceanGate Expeditions, which organizes trips to the remains of the Titanic.
Photo: OceanGate
The Titan submerged on Sunday, 12 noon GMT and lost contact with its support vessel about an hour and 45 minutes later, roughly 700km south of St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Photo: Getty Images
The Titanic wreck is considered a "time capsule" and attracts interest from individuals fascinated by its construction, immigration history, millionaires and the era's celebrities.
Photo: Getty Images
The submersible can accommodate five people and was fully booked for its mission, with tourists paying $250,000 per trip. Here's who's onboard...
Photo: Getty Images
British billionaire Hamish Harding (58) is one of the passengers on board. He is an aviator, space tourist, and chairman of Dubai-based Action Aviation.
Photo: Reuters
Shahzada Dawood (48), a Pakistani businessman, and his son Sulaiman (19) are on board. Dawood is the vice-chairman of Engro Corporation and a board member of Prince's Trust International.
Photo: Getty Images
Paul-Henri Nargeolet (77) is a former French navy commander known as "Mr Titanic". He has been studying the Titanic for 35 years and has participated in several submarine expeditions to the wreckage.
Photo: OceanGate
Stockton Rush (61) is the chief executive and founder of OceanGate, the company behind the tourist mission to the Titanic.Â
Photo: OceanGate
Canadian aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area, but the source of the sounds remains unknown.
Photo: OceanGate
The search area covered so far is twice the size of the US state of Connecticut in waters 4km deep.
Photo: iStock
Though the ocean’s surface has been explored for thousands of years, only about 20% of the seafloor has been mapped, making it even more elusive than outer space.
Photo: OceanGate
Experts hope to find the Titan on the ocean's surface, as it is equipped with safety systems to rise during emergencies.
Photo: OceanGate
The 21-foot submersible is reportedly controlled with a rudimentary Logitech gaming controller, with no room for its passengers to stretch out and limited rations of food and water.
Photo: OceanGate
Industry leaders had raised a number of safety concerns about the Titan submersible before its disappearance with OceanGate Stockton reported to have "broken some rules" during its build.
Photo: OceanGate
If the Titan is stuck on the ocean floor, occupants could run out of oxygen and face extreme hypothermia.
Photo: OceanGate
The air supply in the vessel could run out by Thursday, and a breach of the hull at depth would be fatal due to high pressure.
Photo: OceanGate
Theoretically, the estimated 96 hour oxygen supply is supposed to run out by 12 noon GMT (5:30 PM IST) today.
Photo: OceanGate
The US coast guard is leading the search for the missing submersible, increasing their efforts and hoping for the best.