BY MUZAFALUH KABUULWA
A tourist submarine dubbed Titan was on a tour of the wreckage of the Titanic imploded, killing all five people aboard. The submersible, was reported overdue by Ocean-Gate Inc on June18, 2023 and Coast Guard search effort was launched, but the submersible was not found.
On Thursday through a press conference, the US Coast Guard confirmed announced that the Titan had likely imploded due to the immense pressure at the depth of the Titanic wreck. The pressure at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean is about 16,000 pounds per square inch, which is enough to crush a submarine like the Titan.
The five people who were killed in the implosion were identified as Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate Inc, Chris Hadfield, a retired Canadian astronaut, Vince Cameron, a former Royal Canadian Navy officer, Krista Brodie, a science communicator, John Shears, a submersible pilot.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the family. I hope this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time.” Rear Adm. John Mauger, the First Coast Guard District commander spoke through the press conference.
A remotely controlled vehicle discovered the tail cone and other wreckage from the missing submersible about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, which is around 13,000 feet deep in the North Atlantic Ocean.
“The debris is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel” US Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger, the First Coast Guard District commander, told reporters.
The Titan’s implosion is a devastating loss of life, and it serves as a reminder of the perils of exploring the ocean’s depths. The Titanic wreck is a renowned tourist attraction, but it is also a hazardous location. The pressure at the ocean’s bottom is so high that submarines can be crushed, and the water is so cold that hypothermia can occur in minutes.
The Coast Guard suspended its search for the Titan, and it is now considered a recovery mission as the remains of the Titan were found on the seafloor near the resting place of the Titanic.
