Titanic tourist sub goes missing in Atlantic Ocean, June 2023

[CrimeDawg123]

Somehow "improvised from camping shop stock" , for a submersible that will descend farther than two miles under the ocean -- sounds scary.
This trip had been successfully done before though, so....

I don't know any details about the engineering of this mini submarine, but if in fact they can no longer surface, then it seems clear there have been multiple failures of systems that surely must have been built with redundancy. At some point, you have to look at the fundamentals - who built it, what are their credentials, how was it built, how was it tested, and what contingency plans they have for failure. As you said, "improvised from camping shop stock" sounds scary and I pray it was said tongue in cheek. Godspeed to the passengers.

 

[fred&edna]

Being serious...but there is toilet right?

My think my bladder would likely have "lost consciousness" when first realizing I might be trapped.

 

[bestill]

I really can't wrap my mind around this excursion, especially no way to communicate direction and location except via text. I fear the worst here sadly.

 

[IceIce9]

Could possibly be entangled in the wreckage of the Titanic

Tourist sub taking groups to find Titanic wreckage goes missing

The Boston Coast Guard is now looking for the missing vessel. The wreckage of the iconic ship sits 12,500ft underwater around miles from Newfoundland, Canada.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'We don't have equipment onsite that can do a survey of the bottom... there is a lot of debris [at this wreckage] so locating will be difficult.

'We don't have the capabilities at this time. Right now, we're focused on trying to locate it,' he said.

Sea conditions in the search area right now are 'fairly normal,' said Mauger, with three to six foot waves, low visibility and fog.

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry, during a separate appearance on Sky News, echoed his concerns.

'It's very worrying. It could have become entangled in the wreckage of Titanic, we don't know yet,' said Parry.

 

[Hoss569]

I really can't wrap my mind around this excursion, especially no way to communicate direction and location except via text. I fear the worst here sadly.

Especially since I have read that they use Starlink internet to relay that communication. I have Starlink and well, it's the last thing I would use to drive a submarine ....

 

[neesaki]

Oh my it is tiny. I can't imagine being trapped in there.

No way would I get on that thing. Partially because I’m claustrophobic, but also I personally think that the risk involved is beyond common sense. JMO

 

[*LD*]

Doubt it's entangled based on it losing power 90 min in. Likely wasn't deep enough.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Ballard believed with the advanced video technology that people did not need to put themselves in danger nor the cost of travel to see hard to reach places in our world and beyond.

We have cameras to go to Titanic there is no need to go there imo.
You can sit on your couch and see it.

(No link but I have read every one of his books.)

The bottom of the ocean is undiscovered country, unfortunately they may not return (to borrow from Shakespeare).

“death, the undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveller returns”

 

[JennieM]

What's the weather like at the search site?​

The Coast Guard described sea conditions as "fairly normal" with three to six foot (1.82m) waves.
There is currently "low" visibility and fog in the area.
The weather in the area is, however, good enough for multiple aircraft to fly overheard.

More vessels join the search​

Polar Prince, a vessel which transported the submersible to the site of the Titanic wreckage before the expedition, is now assisting with search and rescue efforts.
Carly Pickett, a spokesperson for Horizon Maritime, a co-owner of the ship, has confirmed its involvement to the BBC.
Polar Prince is a former Canadian Coast Guard icebreaking ship, Pickett said.
Horizon Maritime says it has also dispatched an additional vessel, the Horizon Arctic, to assist. The company’s website says the Horizon Arctic is “designed and equipped for advanced offshore support operations”.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Kopit Hopson 1752 has also been sent to help in the search and rescue operation.

Rescue crews 'take this personally'​

• The US Coast Guard is working with Canadian forces, who have deployed a C130 aircraft as well as a P8 Poseidon aircraft
• Part of the current planning is anticipating what capabilities will be necessary to rescue the submarine if it is found
• Mauger said the rescue teams "take this personally" and are doing everything they can to bring those onboard "home safe"
• The main focus is locating the missing submersible

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-65953941

 

[citizen_sleuth]

I have virtually no knowledge of submersibles, but I can't wrap my head around how we could create technology to enable us to travel miles below the surface of the ocean but somehow still rely on text messages to communicate with the vessel on the surface. I understand why traditional GPS locator beacons would not be feasible when diving in/near wrecks, but surely we have the capability to create a similar type of device which could serve as a backup in case of emergencies.

 

[JennieM]

What we know so far​

We've been following the search and rescue efforts underway in the North Atlantic, after a submersible went missing on Sunday morning - more than 24 hours ago.

Here's a quick look at what we know:

• The submersible has between 70-96 hours of emergency oxygen left (as of 17:00 local time)
• The submersible vanished in the ocean approximately 900 miles (1,448km) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts at a depth of roughly 13,000 feet (4km)
• Five people are on board. The Coast Guard said on Monday there is one pilot and "four mission operators," but did not elaborate further
• The US Coast Guard is working with Canadian forces and private vessels in the area
• The search involves sonar, aerial searches and surface vessels and is being carried out in a very remote location
• Part of the current operation involves anticipating what capabilities will be needed to rescue those aboard if found

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-65953941

 

[dalsglen]

There was a documentary on in the UK last year I think, probably on the BBC. We watched it and I'm 99% sure this was the same sub doing the same trip, damn PlayStation controller. On that programme they lost use of the thrusters and I think had comms issues with the boat.

 

[cuffem]

I really can't wrap my mind around this excursion, especially no way to communicate direction and location except via text. I fear the worst here sadly.

It is hard to just take an 8 hour flight on a crowded plane. Eight hours in a small sub would be too uncomfortable.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

OceanGate, which was founded in 2009 by Stockton Rush, has several custom-built submersibles including Titan, which was designed to reach depths of 13,123 feet necessary to visit the wreck of the Titanic, which lies at a depth of about 12,500 feet. The Titan utilizes SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system when at sea.

The submersible is designed to surface automatically if it encounters technical problems. A Coast Guard C-130 aircraft is searching for the sub on the surface, while a P-8 Poseidon has also been dispatched from Rescue Coordination Center Halifax. The Poseidon is an aircraft that specializes in maritime patrol operations and has underwater detection capabilities it can utilize by dropping sonobuoys in a search area.

Titanic submarine tour company OceanGate Expeditions: What to know

A search and rescue mission is underway for a submersible belonging to OceanGate Expeditions that was reported overdue while on a tourist expedition to the wreck of the Titanic.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[cuffem]

The bottom of the ocean is undiscovered country, unfortunately they may not return (to borrow from Shakespeare).

“death, the undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveller returns”

Unmanned submersibles with cameras can explore the ocean depths. Ballard discovered the hydro thermal vents this way.

 

[UK Girl]

There was a documentary on in the UK last year I think, probably on the BBC. We watched it and I'm 99% sure this was the same sub doing the same trip, damn PlayStation controller. On that programme they lost use of the thrusters and I think had comms issues with the boat.

there was a problem with it last year yes.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

What we know so far​

We've been following the search and rescue efforts underway in the North Atlantic, after a submersible went missing on Sunday morning - more than 24 hours ago.

Here's a quick look at what we know:

• The submersible has between 70-96 hours of emergency oxygen left (as of 17:00 local time)
• The submersible vanished in the ocean approximately 900 miles (1,448km) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts at a depth of roughly 13,000 feet (4km)
• Five people are on board. The Coast Guard said on Monday there is one pilot and "four mission operators," but did not elaborate further
• The US Coast Guard is working with Canadian forces and private vessels in the area
• The search involves sonar, aerial searches and surface vessels and is being carried out in a very remote location
• Part of the current operation involves anticipating what capabilities will be needed to rescue those aboard if found

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-65953941

“

• The submersible has between 70-96 hours of emergency oxygen left (as of 17:00 local time)”

The Titanic is in Newfoundland’s time zone. Local time is NFLD, UTC. Right now it’s 8:55pm there (30 minutes ahead of where I am.)

So, as of right now, 4 hours less oxygen. 66-92 hours left.

Do I have that right?

ETA: So they have to find them by Thursday, Friday at the latest if the estimates are correct (?)

 

[JennieM]

'We were lost': Missing OceanGate Titanic sub vanished for HOURS last summer when communications 'somehow broke down' and crew failed to find the wreckage​

• CBS Sunday Morning reporter David Pogue shared his experience onboard an OceanGate Expeditions vessel on Monday
• He said his voyage was marred by bad weather and communications problems, causing the ship to reported missing for two and a half hours

Missing OceanGate Titanic sub vanished for HOURS last summer

CBS Sunday Morning reporter shared his experience onboard an OceanGate Expeditions vessel on Monday, telling how his submarine was 'lost' for two and a half hours.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[KooshBall]

Being trapped in a tiny vessel, running out of air, while lost at the bottom of the ocean is the stuff of nightmares. I can't stop checking this thread in case there is a miracle and they are found alive. The ocean is so vast, I fear they may never be found.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Unmanned submersibles with cameras can explore the ocean depths. Ballard discovered the hydro thermal vents this way.

I agree with that and the quote you wrote about it possibly desecrating a burial site.

Here in Nova Scotia we have the most graves of the recovered victims of the Titanic. It’s a somber reminder.

“Mr. Dawson is one of 121 people from the Titanic buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, their graves arranged in the shape of a ship’s hull. It is the largest collection of Titanic graves in the world. An additional 29 are buried in two more local cemeteries.”

A Magnet for Titanic Fans in an Unexpected Graveyard (Published 2016)

Fairview Lawn Cemetery holds more victims of the world’s best-known shipwreck than any other place — including the grave of a certain J. Dawson.

www.nytimes.com