The relentless search for the bodies of the passengers aboard the Titan submarine will continue, despite the difficulties posed by the challenging environment at the seabed. Rear Admiral John Mauger, Commander of the First Coast Guard District, stated in a press conference on Thursday (22) that the prospects are not clear at this moment.
The official highlighted the relentless nature of the underwater environment, emphasizing that the team will continue to scour the seabed area. However, the answer regarding the prospects of body recovery remains undefined.
The United States Coast Guard confirmed on Thursday the death of the passengers aboard the Titan submarine, which had been missing since Monday (19). The wreckage found suggests a catastrophic loss of cabin pressure in the submersible.
Amidst this tragedy, Rear Admiral Mauger expressed his condolences to the families of the passengers, acknowledging the pain they are going through and hoping that this discovery can bring some comfort in such a difficult time.
Among the occupants of the submarine were British entrepreneur and adventurer Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman Dawood, as well as the CEO and founder of OceanGate, the company that owns the submersible, Stockton Rush.
Mauger stated that remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) will remain on-site to gather information about the submersible. He emphasized that it will take some time to determine the timeline of events leading to the catastrophic failure of the submarine.
The authorities are dealing with a complex operational environment at a depth of over 3.2 km on the seabed. The highly capable ROVs are expected to reveal more information about the incident.
The wreckage of the Titan submarine was discovered by the search teams. Five different large pieces were identified, including parts of the outer hull and the pressure hull of the submarine. This discovery was the first indication of a catastrophic event, according to Mauger. Another smaller debris field was found within the first one, where another end of the pressure hull was located.
The wreckage has been analyzed by experts, and the families of the passengers have been notified of the deaths. The expedition to the Titanic, which initially aimed to explore the wreck, ended in a tragic loss of lives.
As the world witnessed the drama of the submarine occupants, concerns arose about the safety of the vehicle. Accusations of negligence surfaced, particularly regarding the innovative practices and technological advancements of OceanGate, which, according to CEO Stockton Rush, were inhibited by safety regulations.
In 2018, industry leaders in submarines expressed concerns about OceanGate’s experimental approach. A specialized committee wrote a letter to Rush, questioning the company’s compliance with maritime risk assessment certifications known as DNV-GL.
Amidst these issues, the authorities continue to search for answers, investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy and facing accusations of negligence in submarine safety.