Webdesk: Officials say US and Canadian ships and planes searched Monday for a submarine that went missing more than a day earlier off the coast of southeastern Canada while carrying tourists to the Titanic ruins.
The US Coast Guard said the yacht had one pilot and four passengers and could submerged for 96 hours. But its unknown if it had surfaced and unable to contact.
Moreover, On Monday, US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters that US and Canadian ships and planes have swarmed the area 900 miles (1,450 km) east of Cape Cod, dropping sonar buoys that can monitor to 13,000 feet (3,962 metres).
“It is a remote area and it is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area,” Mauger said.
“We are deploying all available assets to locate the craft and rescue the people on board,” he said. “We will fly aircraft and move more vessels tonight.”
Mauger said officials had also asked commercial vessels for assistance.
On Monday, OceanGate Expeditions, the submarine’s private operator, claimed it was “mobilising all options” to rescue the crew. A relative posted that British billionaire Hamish Harding was on the flight.
The Polar Prince, a surface boat, lost communication with the Titan submarine about one hour and 45 minutes after it began diving towards the Titanic’s debris on Sunday morning, the US Coast Guard tweeted earlier.
OceanGate said, “We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible.”
Harding announced his sub ride on Facebook. His posts stopped. Harding’s article said the expedition left Friday and would dive Sunday early.
