Search under way for Titanic tourist submersible

June 19, 2023 - A search and rescue operation is under way off Newfoundland for a submersible that takes tourists to view the wreck of the Titanic deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

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OceanGate Expeditions said in a brief statement on Monday that it was “mobilising all options” to rescue those on board the vessel. It was not immediately clear how many people were missing.

The missing craft is believed to be OceanGate's Titan submersible, a truck-sized sub that holds five people and usually dives with a four-day supply of oxygen.

The Titan sub was designed by Boeing and NASA, the tubular hull of which is largely made from carbon fibre, with titanium caps at either end. The forward cap features a central 53cm wide acrylic viewport able to allow two people to look out at the same time.

The submersible can travel at three knots and descend 55 metres a minute, with propulsion provided by four electric thrusters. Equipment includes powerful search lights, high-definition cameras, and a laser scanner.