The search operations for a missing tourist submarine in the Atlantic Ocean entered their fourth day on Wednesday, as rescue teams race against time to locate the submarine that disappeared while transporting wealthy passengers on a trip to the wreck of the Titanic in deep waters off the coast of Canada.
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick said at a press conference near the incident site on Tuesday that "U.S. and Canadian aircraft have scoured over 7,600 square miles of the ocean," an area larger than the U.S. state of Connecticut. The "Titan" submarine is designed to remain underwater for 96 hours, giving the five passengers on board until Thursday morning before the air inside runs out.
The wreck of the Titanic, which struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, lies approximately 1,450 kilometers east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 644 kilometers south of St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada. Among the submarine's passengers, who embarked on a $250,000 per person exploratory trip, are British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, both British citizens.
It was also reported that French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet and the founder and CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, Rush Stockten, were on board the submarine. However, authorities have not confirmed the identities of any of the passengers.
**Significant Challenges**
Experts indicate that "rescue teams are facing significant challenges in the search for the submarine and for those on board." Alistair Craig, a professor of marine engineering at University College London, stated, "If the submarine experienced an emergency mid-way through the journey, it is likely that the captain jettisoned its cargo to float back to the surface. But the complete loss of communication makes locating the submarine a challenge."
The submarine is sealed from the outside, which prevents those inside from escaping without external assistance, even if it were to surface. If the submarine is at the bottom of the ocean, rescue efforts will face even greater challenges due to the harsh conditions over 2 nautical miles beneath the water's surface.
The wreck of the Titanic lies 3,810 meters underwater, in a location that sunlight cannot reach. Only specialized equipment can reach this depth without being crushed by the immense water pressure.
