It was initially unclear if tourists were also on board. According to the BBC, the submersibles can accommodate up to five people: a captain, a maximum of three tourists and an expert.
According to the US Coast Guard, there must be at least 70 hours to rescue the five people missing in the submersible near the sinking of the “Titanic”. As the oxygen in the capsule is sufficient for 96 hours, according to the operator, “we assume that between 70 and 96 hours are currently available,” Commander John Mauger said Monday afternoon (local time) in Boston. According to previous reports, the boat has been missing for over 24 hours.
Sonar with a range of 4,000 meters
Right now, it’s all about finding the submersible on the surface of the water or in the depths of the ocean, Mauger said. For this, several planes and ships would be used, in addition to buoys with sonar on board, which can record sounds at a depth of up to almost 4,000 meters. Only when the boat’s exact location is clear can a potential rescue be approached.
Thus, the company had recently announced that an expedition was on the way. Thus, the tours last a total of eight days and cost 250,000 US dollars (229,000 euros) per person. The company is promoting the carbon fiber submersible rides as a chance to “get out of the ordinary and discover something truly extraordinary,” according to the BBC.
The “Titanic” sank in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912, killing more than 1,500 people. The remains of the famous luxury liner were discovered in 1985 at a depth of around 3,800 meters. Only recently, with the help of high-resolution 3D imaging, have scientists offered the most accurate representation of the wreck to date.