A Unified Command is now engaged on the response to the lacking Titan submersible. [Screen grab from USCG B-roll video]
As the seek for the OceanGate Expedition’s lacking submersible Titan continues, U.S. Coast Guard First District reported final night time {that a} Canadian P-3 plane had detected underwater noises within the search space.
[UPDATE: In today’s briefing (see video at bottom of this post ) those noises were described as “banging noises” and subject matter experts put that into perspective.]
As a end result, ROV operations had been relocated in an try to discover the origin of the noises. Those ROV searches have yielded damaging outcomes however proceed. Additionally, the info from the P-3 plane has been shared with U.S. Navy specialists for additional evaluation which shall be thought of in future search plans.
That information got here after yesterday’s press briefing which introduced that the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and OceanGate Expeditions have established a unified command to proceed the seek for the 21-foot submersible analysis Titan.
The submersible was reported lacking, with 5 individuals on board, by the Research Vessel Polar Prince at 5.45 p.m., Sunday night. The submersible was launched at 8 a.m. on what was meant to be a dive on the Titanic wreck and anticipated to resurface at 3 p.m., however an hour and 45 minutes into the dive, misplaced contact with the Polar Prince. At the time of launch the submersible reportedly had a 96 hour oxygen provide.
The Polar Prince is listed on the IMO knowledge base not as a analysis vessel however as a buoy tender. It was inbuilt 1959 and served because the CCGS Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a Canadian Coast Guard gentle icebreaker, till 1986. Since then it has had a number of owners and roles, the newest, apparently, to function a mom ship for the Titan.
As of Tuesday morning, a complete of 10,000 sq. miles have been searched in favorable climate situations with a rise in visibility from the day before today.
The Bahamian analysis vessel, Deep Energy, arrived on scene round 7 a.m. EDT and commenced remotely operated car (ROV) operations. A C-130 crew from the Air National Guard 106th additionally arrived on scene to proceed looking out round 4 p.m. EDT.
The following property had been en route as of yesterday:
- Canadian CGS John Cabot
- Canadian CGS Ann Harvey
- Canadian CGS Terry Fox
- Canadian CGS Atlantic Merlin (ROV)
- Motor Vessel Horizon Arctic
- Commercial Vessel Skandi Vinland (ROV)
- French Research Vessel L’Atalante (ROV)
- HMCS Glace Bay (cell decompression chamber and medical personnel)
Three of these vessels arrived on-scene Wednesday morning. The John Cabot has aspect scanning sonar capabilities and is conducting search patterns alongside the Skandi Vinland and the Atlantic Merlin
“This is a complex search effort which requires multiple agencies with subject matter expertise and specialized equipment which we have gained through the unified command,” stated Capt. Jamie Frederick, the response coordinator from the First Coast Guard District. “While the Coast Guard has assumed the role of Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, we do not have all of the necessary expertise and equipment required in a search of this nature. The Unified Command brings that expertise and additional capability together to maximize effort in solving this complex problem.”
The Titanic wreck is at a depth of 12,500 ft. That’s about twice the utmost depth at which it’s believed a Los Angeles class submarine can go.
Here’s a video of right this moment’s Unified Command press briefing
