Oxygen in Titan submersible has likely run out, say experts
CANADA: The time at which the US Coast Guard predicted that oxygen supplies on board the Titan submersive would expire passed at 4.30 p.m. Sri Lankan time yesterday. The exact situation on the vessel is unknown, and experts have said predictions over supplies are “imprecise estimates.” Rescue efforts were still ongoing even
after the estimated deadline passed. The US Coast Guard reported that Canadian and French vessels had also joined the search. The vessel lost communication with tour operators on Sunday while about 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland, during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada
The 6.7 metre (22ft)-long OceanGate Expeditions vessel, which has five people on board, including British billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding, reportedly had a 96-hour oxygen supply in case of emergencies. Also in the undersea craft are UK-based businessman Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman Dawood, and OceanGate’s chief executive and founder Stockton Rush, reportedly with French submersible pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
The US coast guard has been leading an international rescue effort which was stepped up after underwater noises were heard on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, although experts have been unable to determine the cause of the sound.
Former US Navy submarine commander, David Marquet, told the BBC the noises may not be coming from the submersible.
“We’re hearing noises and more ships are coming into the area, and then we’re hearing more noises, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.” One of the vessels sent to help search efforts is French research vessel L’Atalante which carries a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Victor 6000.
This ROV has a capacity to lift the Titan ship to the surface. The area of the search has been expanded, with the surface search now about 10,000 square miles, and the sub-surface search about 2.5 miles deep.
Titan is believed to be about 900 miles east and 400 miles south of Newfoundland. It is not known how deep the vessel is, with the seabed being around 3,800m from the surface. – BBC