Missing Titanic sub: Search mission underway for submersible lost in Atlantic Ocean
Rachel Schilke
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A submersible that takes tourists to view the Titanic shipwreck is reportedly missing, causing the Boston Coast Guard to begin a search-and-rescue mission.
The Boston Coast Guard told the BBC on Monday that the submersible went missing in the Atlantic Ocean, and it is unclear how many people, if any, were on board when it disappeared.
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Small submersibles are used to take tourists to see the wreckage of the Titanic, which sits about 12,500 feet beneath the surface of the Atlantic and is about 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
The RMS Titanic, operated by the White Star Line, sunk on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1912 after it struck an iceberg. More than 1,500 people died, while some managed to escape on lifeboats. The wreckage was not discovered until 1985.
The Titanic has been a site for both tourist and scientific voyages over the years. For example, a company called OceanGate Expeditions has sent civilian teams to the Titanic in the last few years, touting “Mission 3” and “Mission 4” teams on Thursday. The Washington Examiner reached out to the company for comment.
In a statement to the BBC, OceanGate confirmed the submersible belonged to the company and said it was “exploring and mobilizing all options” to bring the crew members back safely. The organization did not specify how many members were on board.
“Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families,” OceanGate said, adding that it has received “extensive assistance” from “several government agencies and deep sea companies” in its efforts to reestablish forms of contact with the submersible.
“We are working toward the safe return of the crewmembers,” the company said.
Guests can pay $250,000 to take a submersible, called the Titan, to take them to the ocean floor where the Titanic resides for an eight-day exploration, according to a tourist brochure. To join the OceanGate Expeditions as a “mission specialist,” civilians must be at least 18 years old at the beginning of the voyage and must have “basic strength,” be able to board small boats, and “be comfortable in dynamic environments where plans and timetables may change,” per the application.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to the Boston Coast Guard for confirmation on the search-and-rescue mission.
This is a developing story and will be updated.