A tourist submarine disappeared off the coast of Canada, during an organized trip to approach the wreck of the titanic. The private company operating the submersible, OceanGate Expeditions, announced Monday, June 19, in a statement reported by BBCthat she “explore and mobilize all options” to bring the crew back safely.
Quoted by the British media, the American coast guard confirmed that a search and rescue mission had been launched. Canada is also involved, helping the search with a boat and a plane, the Canadian Coast Guard told Agence France-Presse. The mobilized boat “was off eastern Newfoundland and departed for the search area”they said.
“We are fully focused on the submersible crew members and their families”completes the company OceanGate Expeditions, which says it has received a “significant support” of “several government agencies and deep-sea companies”. No information has yet been given on the number of people on board.
OceanGate Expeditions, which recently confirmed on his social networks that one of his expeditions was ” in progress “, charges customers $250,000 (230,000 euros) for a place on his eight-day expedition to see the famous wreck. The submersible can accommodate five people, according to the company, including a pilot, three fare-paying passengers and a ” expert “.
Third expedition to the “Titanic”
The wreckage of titanic sits 3,810 meters (12,500 feet) at the bottom of the Atlantic, nearly 600 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. In 1912, the liner struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Of the 2,200 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 died.
The 2023 OceanGate expedition was the third to the site of the sunken transatlantic liner to document its deterioration and underwater life. The trip was scheduled to depart in early May from St Johns, Newfoundland, and complete in late June, according to a court document filed by the company in April with the U.S. District Court in Virginia which presides over the cases of the titanic.
OceanGate used the Canadian ship Polar Prince, an icebreaker previously operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, to ferry dozens of people and the submersible to the wreck site. The five-person capacity submersible, named Titanis able to dive to 4,000 meters, “with a comfortable margin of safety”, OceanGate said in its court filing.