Missing Titanic Submarine: Update
Here is the update that has been reported so far regarding the missing submarine that was headed to the Titanic site. As we and many others previously reported, the vessel has been missing since yesterday. Earlier today, the US Coast Guard Northeast stated that 10,000 square miles had been searched. Furthermore, a Canadian aircraft had arrived to conduct sonar searches. The Pentagon has also sent search planes and ships to participate in the search.
During a news conference held today in Boston, Captain Jamie Frederick said that crews have not had any results come from their “complex search efforts” so far. Frederick said that they are engaging in everything possible.
Who Is On Board?
People shared that Pakistani billionaire businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood were two of the passengers on board the submersible. Their family confirmed this to the BBC, as they are British citizens. Also on board was Hamish Harding, a British businessman, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a French maritime expert. In total, the submarine holds up to five people, including the pilot.
40 Hours of Oxygen Remaining
Officials with the US Coast Guard stated this afternoon that they believe there are approximately 40 hours of breathable air left in the submarine.
What Else?
Ars Technica reported that the submarine uses a $30 Logitech gamepad for steering. This is a wireless controller that could have been from 2010. This story also claims that the submarine’s design did not meet regulations.
USA Today stated that the search location is, “about 900 miles east of Cape Cod and up to 13,000 feet deep.” As a result they relayed that the Coast Guard said this, “complicates the task, as does the need to look both on the ocean surface and below.”
David Pogue from CBS Sunday Morning and the Unsung Science podcast told NewsNation Now that he was on this submarine last year, but they had to turn around after 37 feet and head back due to mechanical issues. However, Pogue explained these types of mechanical problems are common and often, many backups are in place to return safely.
