Key events
Recovering the missing Titan submersible and bringing its crew to safety in time using the latest advanced deep-sea rescue equipment would be an extremely difficult task, an expert has said.
Even if Titan is located, a successful rescue would require remote-controlled vehicles (ROVs) capable of allowing operators on the surface a clear view of the submersible’s location, any obstacles that may be present and where to attach cables capable of lifting it thousands of metres through the water.
If the Titan and its five-person crew did arrive at the Titanic wreck, they will be located 3,800 metres (12,500ft) below the surface on the seabed – too deep for most ROVs to reach. Only a “tiny percentage of the world’s submarines operate that deeply”, David Marquet, a former US Navy submarine commander, told CBC.
If you’re just joining us and looking to catch up on the technical challenges that face rescuers attempting to reach the sub, read the full report here:
Though authorities and those involved in the hunt for the Titan submersible, the challenges should not be underestimated.
The area of ocean where the vessel is lost is remote and rugged – and the wreck of the Titanic lies roughly 3700m below sea level.
If that is hard to conceptualise, this illustrated video captures the scale of the challenge.
There have been concerns bad weather may hamper the search from the Titan submersible but it looks as if conditions are right for a positive result.
Wendy Rush, who is married to Stockton Rush, Ceo of OceanGate and pilot aboard the Titan submersible, is also a descendent of a couple who lost their lives aboard the famed ship.
The New York Times reports that Rush is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, two first-class passengers who were aboard the Titanic when it went down in 1912.
The couple were among the Titanic’s wealthiest passengers. Isidor and his brother co-owned a Macy’s department store.
Survivors reported watching Isidor refuse a seat on a life raft to allow women and children to get on board. Ida chose to remain with him. The scene was recreated in the film dramatisation of the disaster.
Wendy nee Hollings Weil married Stockton Rush in 1986.
She is also the communications director at OceanGate and has personally visited the Titanic wreck three times.
Opening Summary
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the search for the submersible vessel Titan that went missing during a voyage to the wreck of the Titanic with five people onboard.
The search for the OceanGate Expeditions tourist submersible is entering its fourth day after the vessel was reported overdue on Sunday evening about 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland.
Officials have still said they are hopeful of a rescue despite growing concerns the oxygen supply on board is becoming dangerously low. Equipment from the US, Canada, the UK and France has been brought in to help find the vessel.
Experts have said the search remains a technically challenging task because of the potential for bad weather and the difficulty in locating a small vessel in a vast ocean. So far the search has concentrated around an area where sounds were detected repeating at 30-minute intervals but authorities have said they have been unable to confirm the origin of these sounds.
As of Wednesday night local time remotely operated deep-sea vehicles (ROV), capable of operating down to depths of 6km, were heading to the area to join the search and the US Navy is also sending a heavy-lifting system called Fadoss.
It is understood the vessel had enough oxygen on board for 96 hours, though the true extent of its supply depends on several various including whether the vessel remains powered, the activity of those on board and whether they have remained calm and are able to control their breathing.
Those onboard Titan are believed to be British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, with his 19-year-old son Suleman, who are both British citizens; French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77; and Stockton Rush, founder and CEO of OceanGate Expeditions.
We’ll bring you updates on the search as they happen.
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