The search for the missing “Titan” submersible becomes a race against time as sour supplies are running low. According to the US media, search teams recorded a sign of life from the occupants: they heard crashing noises every 30 minutes in the region where the submersible is suspected to be.
When looking for the submersible “Titan” missing in the Atlantic, emergency services may have heard a sign of life from the occupants. Search teams recorded this Tuesday a kind of “knocking noise” every 30 minutes in the region where the submersible is suspected, according to an internal memo of the United States government, of which the broadcaster CNN and the magazine “Rolling Stone” quoted in the night on Wednesday.
Four hours later, after additional sonar had been deployed, the tapping could still be heard, he said. According to the memo, however, it was unclear exactly when and for how long the noise was heard. A later update, sent out Tuesday night, reported additional noises, but they were no longer described as “knocking”, CNN wrote. The acoustic sounds indicate there is still hope for survivors, she said. Initially, there was no comment from operator Oceangate or the US Coast Guard.
The search will run out of time
Eight other ships were en route on Tuesday to help search for the missing submersible. That included four Canadian Coast Guard ships, the French research ship L’Atalante and the Canadian HMCS Glace Bay, which has an airlock and medical staff on board, the US Coast Guard said Tuesday night (12:00 GMT). local).
After being rescued, divers who have had an accident should enter a hyperbaric chamber as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage. If people are under high ambient pressure for a long time, as is the case in great depths of water, they absorb more nitrogen than normal. This can lead to gas bubbles in the blood and tissues, which can be fatal if they reach the brain.
In addition, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy, the Canadian Coast Guard and the operator Oceangate Expeditions established a joint command to coordinate the search for the “Titan” with five people on board. “This is a complex search operation that will require diverse forces with the experience and specialized equipment that we have acquired through the joint command,” said Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard.
There’s no sign of a submersible
The US Navy is also sending a device to rescue the vehicle. As a spokeswoman for the German Press Agency said, the deepwater reclamation system with the abbreviation “Fadoss” is due to reach the Canadian city of St. Johns in Newfoundland on Wednesday night (local time). It was initially unclear when it might reach the search area hundreds of kilometers to the south.
The US Navy describes the “Fadoss” as a “portable ship lifting system that provides reliable offshore lifting capability of up to 27 tons for the recovery of large, bulky, and heavy sunken objects such as airplanes or small ships.” cable are included different sizes depending on the type and weight of the object to be lifted. “Fadoss” could only be used after the submersible was found. So far, however, there are no traces of the “Titan”.
Oxygen should last until noon tomorrow
Operator Oceangate promised to do everything to rescue the missing five. “Our overall focus is the well-being of the crew and all possible measures will be taken to bring the five crew members back safely,” the statement said. “We are deeply grateful for the urgent and comprehensive support we are receiving from various government agencies and deepwater companies as we attempt to re-establish contact with the submersible.”
The small vehicle of 6.70 meters and 10.4 tons has been missing since Sunday morning (local time). Despite a feverish search in the air and water, there is still no trace of him. Time is short: According to estimates by the authorities, oxygen should only last until noon on Thursday (CEST). On board are French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding and Anglo-Pakistani business consultant Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman. The captain was the head of the operating company, Stockton Rush. (APA/dpa)