A rescue operation has already been deployed to search for the submersible that was lost at sea after being cut off from surface communication. As of writing, recent news still says that the vehicle along with its passengers is yet to be found.
Submersible Still Missing
The submersible called Titan is part of an operation from a company called OceanGate Expeditions, where anyone can explore the wreck of the Titanic for $250,000 per person. The expedition will take passengers more than two miles below the ocean's surface.
Unfortunately, the unthinkable happened and the marine vehicle got lost in a part of the ocean that was around 13,000 feet in depth. The submersible lost contact with the Canadian research ship MV Polar Prince as it dove around 900 miles east of Cape Cod.
US Coast Guard Rear Admiral, John Mauger said that it is a challenge to conduct a search in the remote area and that they have already deployed all available assets to help with the search, as mentioned in The New York Times.
Along with aircraft support from both the US and Canada, sonar buoys have also been placed to help search for the vehicle beneath the water's surface. The company behind Titan has thanked those who offered "extensive assistance" to reestablish communications with the submersible.
Two members out of five had already been identified. One of them was Hamish Harding, who was the chairman of Action Aviation and posted about the plan to go on the dive. Another was Paul Henry Nargeolet, a French expert on the sunken boat.
Despite the contributions of the government and other private companies to hasten the search, there are still factors that cannot be controlled. The search could be delayed by weather conditions, water temperature, or even just the darkness of the night.
It's a different situation altogether when it comes to rescuing underwater, as more factors come into play that makes the operation more difficult. Certain equipment will be needed to conduct a successful rescue, not to mention the limited time they will have to do it.
Why The Submersible Needs to Be Found Quick
Like all marine vehicles, Titan only has a limited supply of breathable air before it runs out. On a Monday afternoon, Rear Admiral Mauger said that the vehicle has about 70 to 96 hours available at the point of his statement, as mentioned in the Independent.
There are a number of things that may go wrong the longer Titan stays underwater. The pressure in the depths of the ocean alone is already alarming enough for a marine vehicle that cannot be contacted.
There's also the matter of the Titan's batteries. The power is needed to keep the inside of the vehicle warm. If the battery runs out, the passengers will be subjected to the freezing temperatures of the deep ocean, which may lead to hypothermia.
The rescuers are not only chasing a clock to save the crew from running out of oxygen to breathe. The lack of heated space is yet another danger the crew is at risk of facing of they are not found on time.
