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US Coast Guard finds Titanic debris, evaluation in progress.
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Critical search stage for missing submersible near Titanic.
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Multi-national efforts to locate missing submersible.
The urgent search for a missing submersible near the Titanic wreckage has reached a critical stage, with only a limited air supply remaining for the five individuals on board. Despite this dire situation, officials are determined to continue scouring the remote waters of the North Atlantic.
The US Coast Guard announced on Twitter that a remotely operated vehicle, deployed from a Canadian vessel, has uncovered a “debris field” in close proximity to the Titanic. The information is currently being evaluated by experts.
In a parallel effort, a robot from a French research ship has also been dispatched to explore the ocean floor, specifically focusing on detecting any signs of the 22-foot Titan submersible.
The Titan, operated by OceanGate Expeditions based in the US, embarked on its descent at 8 am on Sunday, intending to reach the ocean floor within two hours. Unfortunately, contact with its support ship was lost, prompting concerns for the submersible’s occupants. The Titan carried a 96-hour air supply, which would have been depleted by Thursday morning if the submersible remains intact. The actual timeframe depends on variables such as power availability and the calmness of those on board.
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Optimism arose among rescuers and the families of the five individuals when the US Coast Guard reported that Canadian search planes had picked up undersea sounds through sonar buoys on Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, subsequent searches using remote-controlled underwater vehicles did not yield any conclusive results, leading officials to caution that the detected sounds may not have originated from the Titan.
Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard stated on NBC that the search operation will continue throughout the day.
Deep-sea Expedition
This deep-sea expedition to the Titanic, which sank in 1912 during its inaugural voyage after colliding with an iceberg, marks the culmination of a high-priced adventure offered by OceanGate at $250,000 per person.
Among the passengers on the Titan were British billionaire and adventurer Hamish Harding, 58, and British citizens Shahzada Dawood, 48, a business magnate, and his 19-year-old son Suleman. French oceanographer and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, the American founder and CEO of OceanGate (who is married to a descendant of two Titanic victims), were also aboard.
