A large search and rescue mission is happening in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. A tourist submarine carrying American tourists, who were on an 8-day deep-sea trip to see the Titanic wreck, has gone missing.
The tour company, OceanGate, arranges this expensive trip. Tickets for the 8-day tour, which includes diving 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) to the Titanic wreck, cost $250,000.
The U.S. Coast Guard lost contact with the submarine about 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive last Sunday(18).
OceanGate’s missing submarine is about the size of a truck and can hold five people. It usually has a four-day emergency oxygen supply for dives.
The company is doing everything possible to save the five people on board.
The United States, along with Canadian authorities, naval forces, and deep-sea experts, are assisting in the rescue operation.
The Titanic wreck is located approximately 435 miles (700 km) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The rescue efforts are based in Boston, Massachusetts.
On Monday, Rear Admiral John Moger of the U.S. Coast Guard stated in a press conference that the submarine likely has between 70 and 96 hours of oxygen left.
The search for the vessel involves two aircraft, a submarine, and sonar buoys, but the challenging conditions make operations difficult in the search area.
Rear Admiral Moger assured that the rescue teams are fully committed to bringing the people on board back home safely and are treating the operation as their top priority.
