The US Coast Guard launched a search-and-rescue operation on Monday for a submarine that went missing while carrying tourists on an expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic.
The company conducting the voyage, Oceangate Expeditions, said it was “exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely.”
“Our entire focus is on the submersible vehicle crew and their families. We are deeply grateful for the extensive assistance we have received from various government agencies and offshore companies in our efforts to re-establish contact with the submersible,” the group said.
“We are working for the safe return of the crew”, he concluded.
The submarine holds up to five people, the company says on its website. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board.
A CNN contacted the Boston Coast Guard and authorities in Newfoundland, Canada.
The Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in April 1912, killing more than 1,500 people. The wreckage of the Titanic, discovered in 1985, lies in two parts on the ocean floor, about 13,000 feet below the surface, southeast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland.
More recently, expensive private tours have been offered to tourists, allowing people to see the wreck up close.
An archived version of the OceanGate website, accessible through the Wayback Machine, shows what passengers can spend up to US$250,000 on the trip.
“Follow in the footsteps of Jacques Cousteau and become an underwater explorer — starting with a dive in the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. This is your chance to get out of everyday life and discover something truly extraordinary, ”says the site.
“Become one of the few to see the Titanic with your own eyes,” he adds.
The eight-day expedition is based in the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The voyage begins with a journey of 400 nautical miles to the wreck site.
There, up to five people, including a pilot, a “content expert” and three paying passengers, board the submersible “Titan” and descend to the bottom of the ocean.
“Once the submersible is launched, you’ll start to see life forms whirring through the viewport as you sink deeper and deeper into the ocean. The descent takes approximately two hours, but it feels like the blink of an eye,” the website said.
According to OceanGate, the Titan is a 23,000-pound (about 10.4 tons) submersible made of carbon fiber and titanium.
As a safety feature, the submarine uses a “proprietary real-time hull health monitoring (RTM) system” that analyzes the pressure in the vessel and the integrity of the structure, the company claims.
He also has life support for a five -person crew for up to 96 hours, says the site.
Source: CNN Brasil
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