A submarine carrying five people disappeared during a dive to the Titanic wreck site on Sunday, June 19, 2023.
The submarine,
named Titanic, was operated by OceanGate Expeditions and was carrying British
businessman Hamish Harding, American tourist Chris Tatro, and three OceanGate
crew members.
The submersible was
last seen at 10:27 a.m. EDT on Sunday, about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south
of St. John's, Newfoundland.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian authorities launched
a search and rescue operation, but the submersible has not been found. The
Titanic has a range of 96 hours, so it is possible that the submersible is still
underwater and able to communicate. However, the Coast Guard has said that the
chances of finding the submersible alive are "very slim."
The disappearance of the Titanic has raised concerns
about the safety of tourist submersibles that visit the Titanic wreck site.
The Titanic is located in an area of the Atlantic Ocean
that is known for its strong currents and rough seas. The wreck is also located
at a depth of 12,415 feet (3,784 meters), which makes it a challenging
environment for submersibles.
In 2019, a different tourist submersible, the Limiting
Factor, was damaged during a dive to the Titanic wreck site. The submersible
was able to surface safely, but the incident highlighted the risks of visiting
the Titanic wreck site.
The disappearance of the Titan is a reminder of the
dangers of deep-sea diving. The search for the submersible is ongoing, but the
chances of finding the passengers alive are slim.