BOSTON, MA – The USCG is searching for a 21-foot submersible from the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince. The 5 person crew submerged Sunday morning, and the crew of the Polar Prince lost contact with them approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes into the vessel’s dive. The Rescue Coordination Center Halifax is assisting with a P8 Poseidon aircraft in the search. The P8 has underwater detection capabilities. A USCG C-130 crew is searching for the overdue Canadian research submersible approximately 900 miles off Cape Cod at the site of the RMS Titanic wreck.
The Coast Guard held a press conference at 4:30 PM Monday to release more details:
Total search area completed as of Tuesday morning is 10,000 SQ miles.
Another press conference was held at 1 PM Tuesday:
Further statement from U.S. Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and OceanGate Expeditions have established a unified command to continue its response to the 21-foot submersible research vessel, Titan, from the Research Vessel Polar Prince that went missing Sunday evening.
As of Tuesday morning, a total of 10,000 square miles have been searched in favorable weather conditions with an increase in visibility from the previous day.
The Bahamian research vessel, Deep Energy, arrived on scene around 7 a.m. EDT and began remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations. A C-130 crew from the Air National Guard 106th also arrived on scene to continue searching around 4 p.m. EDT.
The following assets are en route:
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)
His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Glace Bay (mobile decompression chamber and medical personnel)
“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,” said 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.”
Jun 18 at 5:40 p.m. EDT, the Coast Guard received a report on an overdue 21-foot submersible from the Canadian Research Vessel POLAR PRINCE with five people on board, diving to view the wreckage of the Titanic, approximately 900 nautical miles East of Cape Cod.
The submersible was launched at 8 a.m. and expected to resurface at 3 p.m., but an hour and 45 minutes into their dive, they lost contact with the Polar Prince. The Coast Guard is working with international partners to effectively utilize all resources available.
Canadian P-3 aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area. As a result, ROV operations were relocated in an attempt to explore the origin of the noises. Those ROV searches have yielded negative results but continue. Additionally, the data from the P-3 aircraft has been shared with our U.S. Navy experts for further analysis which will be considered in future search plans.
Another press conference was held at 1 PM Wednesday:
Thursday update: A debris field was discovered within the search area by an ROV near the Titanic. Experts within the unified command are evaluating the information.
Courtesy Pelagic Research Services/CWN
A Cape Cod Company, Pelagic Research Services (PRS) of South Wellfleet issued a statement saying they were contacted by OceanGate Expeditions to provide critical support in the rescue operation of the submersible Titan in the North Atlantic.
Breaking update at 3 PM Thursday: The Coast Guard has confirmed debris found earlier has been confirmed as being from the submersible Titan. It appears there was a catastrophic implosion. OceanGate Expeditions released the following statement: “This is an extremely sad time for our dedicated employees who are exhausted and grieving deeply over this loss. The entire OceanGate family is deeply grateful for the countless men and women from multiple organizations of the international community who expedited wide-ranging resources and have worked so very hard on this mission.”
A press conference was held at 3 PM Thursday:
