Lost submersible
“Sometimes we can’t find what we’re looking for”: “Titan” rescue mission is expanded – more guesswork about knocking noises
The submersible Titan disappeared in the Atlantic on its way to the wreck of the Titanic
©Oceangate Expeditions/PA Media/DPA
Is there a happy ending to the search for the missing Titan submersible? It’s becoming increasingly unlikely. The rescuers are stepping up their efforts again, but are also preparing for the worst case.
The search continues, the race against time continues – and it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the rescue workers will win it. Because they still don’t know where the missing submersible “Titan” is. And the oxygen for the five people on board will probably run out tomorrow, Thursday. At a press conference in Boston, the US coast week commented again on the rescue mission in the North Atlantic on Wednesday afternoon (local time) – the search teams do not want to give up hope. But prepare yourself for bad news.
The star summarizes the most important statements:
Knocking noises from the “Titan”?
According to a US expert involved, the noises recorded when searching for the submersible near the famous “Titanic” wreck could have many causes. The sounds were described as knocking, said Carl Hartsfield from the Oceanographic Systems Laboratory at the press conference. “From my experience with acoustics, I can tell you that there are sounds of biological matter that sound man-made to the untrained ear. But I can assure you that the people listening to these tapes are trained.” There are also some noises coming from ships in the search area. Experts would systematically analyze each recording. Recordings described as “knocking noises” fueled hope for a sign of life on Wednesday night. “We don’t know what that is,” Coast Guard officer Jamie Frederick said.
Search teams are strengthened
The Coast Guard is stepping up efforts as the time window for rescuing the five occupants of the missing Titan submersible is closing. Five units are currently deployed on the water surface, Frederick said. Five more would be added in the next 24 to 48 hours. The number of remote-controlled underwater vehicles, two of which have been in use so far, will also be increased by Thursday morning (local time). Frederick stressed that it was still a search and rescue operation. “This is a search and rescue operation, 100 percent,” he replied when asked if the Coast Guard considered the operation a rescue or, more recently, a salvage operation. We will continue to use all available means to find the “Titan” and her crew. He also thanked the international support, including from Canada, Great Britain and France.
What if the “Titanic” submarine is not found?
The US Coast Guard has spoken of a possible failure of the mission given the closing time window for the rescue of the five missing near the “Titanic” wreck. “Sometimes we don’t find what we’re looking for,” said Frederick, Wednesday in Boston. Then it sometimes happens “that you have to make a difficult decision. But we’re not at that point yet,” stressed Frederick. If that were to happen, the families of the missing would be notified long before the public.