BOSTON – A multination search is underway to find a submersible that disappeared Sunday several hundred miles off the coast of Canada destined for the Titanic’s wreckage in the North Atlantic.
The 22-foot submarine operated by OceanGate Expeditions had five people aboard and was offering excursions of the Titanic’s wreckage for around $250,000 per person.
FOX News reports billionaire Hamish Harding, Titanic expert PH Nargeolet, OceanGate Expedition CEO Stockton Rush, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman Dawood are on board.
Capt. Jamie Fredrick, with the U.S. Coast Guard, stated crews have searched an area larger than the state of Connecticut and have yet to find any signs of OceanGate’s missing Titan sub.
If estimates are accurate, officials believe the vessel will run out of breathable air on Thursday, but major questions remain as to what actions rescuers could take if the submersible is spotted.
The Titanic’s wreckage lies about 12,500 feet deep, with only remotely operated vehicles able to search due to extreme pressures.
“Right now, all of our efforts are focused on finding the sub. What I will tell you is we have a group of our nation’s best experts in the unified command, and if we get to that point, those experts will be looking at what the next course of action is,” said Fredrick.
The expected weather for the remaining workweek does not appear to be a factor in search and rescue efforts.
While there are a few chances of scattered showers over the next few days, the FOX Forecast Center expects both wind and seas to have minimal impacts.
Forecast models show wind gusts could peak at only 15-20 mph during the week, and wave heights will remain below 6’.
As the Northern Hemisphere enters summer, weather features from both the west and the south can impact the region but fortunately, there a no major low-pressure systems on the horizon.
In fact, a ridge of high pressure is expected to remain in control leading to the search region being free of disruptive weather and tropical cyclone concerns.
The closest tropical cyclone activity is expected to remain over 1,000 miles away in the Caribbean and central Atlantic over the next five days.
The USCG has not stated how long they expect search and rescue efforts to last and so far have not come across any signs of the missing vessel.