A small submersible that brings tourists 3,800m down to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to view the wreck of the Titanic has gone missing.
The private sub belongs to OceanGate Expeditions, a company that charges $250,000 per person for an eight-day journey to view the world’s most famous shipwreck. The company currently has a Titanic expedition ongoing.
The titanium and carbon-fiber submersible can seat five, including three paying guests.
The missing submersible. Photo: OceanGate
The Boston Coast Guard told the BBC that a search operation has begun for the missing vessel, 600km off the coast of Newfoundland.
OceanGate has just issued a statement saying, “Our entire focus is on the crew members in the submersible and their families. We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible.”
The depth of the submersible when it disappeared has not yet been made public, but it was one hour and 45 minutes into its dive when it lost contact with its host ship on the surface, the MV Polar Prince. The return trip, to the Titanic’s depth and back up again, takes eight hours.
According to OceanGate, the submersible can maintain life support for five people for 96 hours. It began its dive on Sunday morning.
The Titanic’s original route, and where it went down.
