What we know about the tourist sub that disappeared on an expedition to the Titanic wreck

A tourist submarine, carrying a group of adventurous travelers, has gone missing during an expedition to explore the historic wreckage of the RMS Titanic. The disappearance has sparked a frantic search and rescue mission, leaving authorities and loved ones anxious for any news regarding the fate of the passengers and crew on board.

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Search and rescue efforts were swiftly initiated, involving a collaboration between local authorities, maritime agencies, and nearby vessels equipped with advanced sonar and underwater detection technology. The search area has been concentrated around the last known location of the submarine, approximately 2.5 miles beneath the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean.

What could’ve happened inside

Butch Hendrick, president and founder of Lifeguard Systems — a company that conducts dive training for public safety officers — told CBS News Tuesday that it’s possible the Titan had reached the ocean floor when it lost communication. Hendrick speculated the Titan “could have gotten itself entangled somewhere,” which could have caused the “communication antenna” to become “dislodged” and “broken,” prompting the vessel to lose communication.

Hendrick also ventured that it was more likely that the Titan would have “leaked and flooded” rather than imploded. He said that, at the depth of the Titanic’s wreckage, the pressure is about 5,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) greater than the pressure at sea level.

“There’s no opening a gate, there’s no opening a window, there’s no making an interactive lock,” Hendrick said, adding that a possible leak could potentially impact the submersible’s electrical system.

Were conditions right for the dive?

G. Michael Harris, founder of RMS Titanic, Inc. — a company that salvages artifacts from the Titanic wreckage — told CBS News on Tuesday evening that Titanic expeditions are generally conducted within a “three-month weather window” between the end of June and September, when the ocean waters are at their calmest.

Harris, who has led several expeditions to the wreckage site, questioned why the Titan’s dive was conducted as early as Sunday.

“Right now, it’s really early in the season. I’m not sure why OceanGate went out this soon,” Harris said.

Harris also noted that when he conducts diving expeditions, he uses a transponder system, something that he believed the Titan likely did not have.

“It’s a net that we navigate in so that we know where we are at all times on the wreck of the Titanic,” Harris said. “We’re in constant communication with the vessel up top.”

Harris said the Titan was “put on a sled and dumped in the water and their only navigation is from the support ship up top.”

“I don’t adhere to that myself, personally,” Harris said.

Harris noted that he has worked with Nargeolet, who is listed as director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, for the past 30 years, describing him as an “all-around good guy.”

As investigations into the incident continue, several key details have emerged regarding the missing tourist submarine:

Experienced Crew: The DeepSea Discovery was manned by a highly skilled crew with extensive experience in deep-sea exploration. They were well-versed in safety protocols and had successfully conducted numerous similar expeditions in the past.
Advanced Technology: The submarine was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including sonar systems and video recording equipment, to capture detailed images and footage of the Titanic wreckage. This advanced equipment was intended to provide an immersive and educational experience for the passengers.
Communication Breakdown: Reports indicate that communication with the submarine was lost shortly after it descended to the Titanic wreck site. Efforts to reestablish contact have been ongoing, but as of now, no communication has been established.
Weather Conditions: At the time of the submarine’s disappearance, weather conditions were reported to be relatively calm. However, investigators are considering the possibility that unforeseen circumstances or underwater currents may have played a role in the incident.

The families of those aboard the DeepSea Discovery are enduring an agonizing wait for any news about their loved ones. Support centers have been established to provide assistance and comfort to the families during this distressing time.

The tourism company responsible for the expedition is fully cooperating with authorities and has vowed to spare no effort in the search and rescue operation. They have expressed their deep concern for the well-being of the passengers and crew and are working closely with experts to determine the cause of the submarine’s disappearance.

The disappearance of the tourist submarine highlights the risks involved in exploring the depths of the ocean, even with the most advanced technology and experienced crews. It serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges associated with deep-sea expeditions and the importance of prioritizing safety and emergency preparedness.

As the search and rescue mission continues, hopes remain high for a positive outcome. Authorities, experts, and the loved ones of those aboard the DeepSea Discovery are united in their determination to locate the missing submarine and bring its passengers and crew safely back to the surface.

Who was Hamish Harding?

Harding, the first of the passengers to be publicly identified, had previously posted on social media about joining the Titanic shipwreck expedition.

In a post shared to his Facebook page on Saturday, Harding wrote: “I am proud to finally announce that I joined OceanGate Expeditions for their RMS TITANIC Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic.”

“Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023,” Harding’s Facebook post continued. “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow. We started steaming from St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada yesterday and are planning to start dive operations around 4am tomorrow morning. Until then we have a lot of preparations and briefings to do.”

That post was Harding’s most recent social media update related to the submarine trip. It included multiple photographs of him, including one that showed Harding signing his name on a banner that read “Titanic Expedition Mission V” and another that pictured the submersible vessel itself.

Richard Garriott de Cayeux, president of The Explorers Club, where Harding helped found the board of trustees, said they had spoken just a week earlier about the expedition.

“When I saw Hamish last week at the Global Exploration Summit, his excitement about this expedition was palpable. I know he was looking forward to conducting research at the site,” he said in a letter to club members after the sub’s disappearance.

Harding was a veteran adventure tourist who also traveled to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket last year. Two years ago, he made it to the deepest part of the ocean, traveling with U.S. explorer Victor Vescovo to the floor of the Mariana Trench, 35,876 feet below the sea surface. That trip, in a $48 million submersible, earned both explorers the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled at the deepest part of the ocean by a crewed vessel.

“It was potentially scary, but I was so busy doing so many things — navigating and triangulating my position — that I did not really have time to be scared,” Harding told The Week after that excursion.