According to media reports, a search operation is currently underway for a missing submersible used for exploring the wreckage of the Titanic, which carries people on such expeditions.

The U.S. Coast Guard has informed BBC News that the search efforts began on Monday off the coast of Newfoundland. OceanGate Expeditions, the owner of the missing vessel, has confirmed the situation.

The company stated in a message to BBC News that they are actively exploring and mobilizing all available options to ensure the safe return of the crew. Their primary focus is on the well-being of the crewmembers and their families, the Associated Press reports.

Although the U.S. Coast Guard in Boston did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, mentioned that Canadian military aircraft and a Canadian Coast Guard vessel are assisting in the search operation, which is being led by the U.S. Coast Guard.

In 2021, OceanGate Expeditions initiated what was intended to become an annual voyage to document the ongoing deterioration of the historic ocean liner that famously sank in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg.

The company had planned to include archaeologists, marine biologists, and approximately 40 paying tourists who would take turns operating sonar equipment and performing other tasks within the five-person submersible.

The initial group of tourists had funded the expedition by individually contributing amounts ranging from $100,000 to $150,000.

Written by staff