OceanGate, a pioneering company in underwater exploration, is granting individuals an extraordinary chance to witness the captivating remnants of the Titanic. The ill-fated ocean liner, resting at a depth of approximately 13,000 feet, lies 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. Guided by the innovative submersible Titan, OceanGate opens a gateway to the remarkable underwater scenery of this historic wreck.
To simplify, Titan is the name of a submarine built by OceanGate. It was constructed using a combination of affordable components, such as a Logitech Bluetooth controller repurposed as the steering mechanism. Despite its cost-saving measures, the submarine was comparable in size to a small van and featured life support systems developed in consultation with NASA engineers. The Titan boasted a single porthole window and included a provision for sanitary needs, such as a designated bottle.
The cost of a seat for this exclusive tour is approximately $250,000 USD. This fee serves multiple purposes: covering the operational expenses, facilitating a comprehensive 10-day expedition (including 8 days allocated for travel and 2 days reserved for potential dives to the wreck, subject to weather conditions), and providing vital funding for ongoing research on the Titanic’s deterioration.
The five individuals inside the submersible were Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood, Paul Henry Nargeole, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. It is worth noting that the submersible had a capacity of only 5 people.
On Sunday, June 18, the Titan took advantage of a brief window of favorable weather conditions to embark on its third expedition to the Titanic wreck. Typically, the descent to the correct depth takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. However, during this dive, communication with its mother ship, Polar Prince, was lost after 1 hour and 45 minutes.
While this occurrence is not uncommon in past expeditions, it highlights the immense difficulty of establishing reliable communication at such extreme depths. With the absence of reliable GPS or radio signals reaching that far, the Titan relies on transmitting text messages through short, data-intensive acoustic bursts via a sonar signal.
Growing concern gripped officials as their efforts to re-establish communication proved fruitless. After an anxious 8-hour wait, they swiftly notified government authorities, initiating urgent rescue operations.
In case of an emergency, the submersible carries a total of approximately 96 hours of oxygen supply. By the time of the accident, their estimated remaining reserve had dwindled to a mere 40 hours, expected to decrease further by Thursday.
Reports indicate that several banging sounds were heard before the submersible went missing. Some sources claim that a debris field was discovered within the designated search area. It is highly likely that the submersible suffered an implosion, potentially occurring on the same day it descended into the depths of the ocean. The unimaginable nightmare of feeling panicky, claustrophobic, and trapped in isolation, desperately crying out for help, weighs heavily on the situation
