On Sunday, June 18, 2023, an underwater exploration vessel to the Titanic’s wreckage lost contact with its chartered research ship, and its location remains unknown. The 22-foot-long submersible craft, aptly named the Titan, is owned by the Washington-based company OceanGate Expeditions. Five people are currently aboard.
The Titan lost contact about halfway through a two-and-a-half hour dive, per The New York Times. The submersible dives about 4000 feet down to the Titanic wreckage, and is equipped with about 96 hours of oxygen, per the OceanGate Expeditions website. As of June 20, the expedition only had about 40 hours of oxygen left, according to the New York Times.
With the National Guard racing the clock in attempt to find the missing submersible, here is everything to know about the Titan and its exploration:
What happened to the Titanic?
In April 1912, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg four days into its journey from Southampton, England to New York City. It was the largest and most majestic passenger ship at the time, and its sinking is one of the most well-known tragedies. There were more than 1,500 fatalities (although the exact number is still unknown). Prior to its first and only voyage, the Titanic was deemed “unsinkable” for its design.
Where is the Titanic located?
The Titanic wreckage is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 370 miles off the coast of the Canadian province Newfoundland. It’s about 2.4 miles beneath the ocean surface, and wasn’t discovered by explorers until 1985, per The New York Times.
Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard is searching for the Titan with “unwavering effort” around the area of the Titanic wreckage.
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Who is aboard the submarine?
As of June 20, only four of the five passengers aboard the Titan have been identified—and one is rumored. The OceanGate Expeditions mission reportedly cost $250,000 per person for the eight-hour exploratory experience. Here are the known passengers of the Titan:
- Hamish Harding: Harding, 58, is a British businessman and explorer. He is the chairman of Action Aviation and also traveled to space with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket company.
- Paul-Henri Nargeolet: Paul-Henri, 77, has traveled down to the Titanic wreckage over 35 times. He is nicknamed “Mr. Titanic,” and is the director for RMS Titanic, INC, a company that owns the salvage rights to the Titanic.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet has embarked on over 35 dives to the Titanic wreck site.
- Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood: Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, are also both aboard the Titan. Shahzada is vice chairman of the Engro Corporation, and the descendant of one of Pakistan’s wealthiest families.
The Dawood family currently resides in the United Kingdom.
- Stockton Rush: Stockton Rush, 61, the CEO and founder of OceanGate, is also currently aboard the Titan. His company has embarked on about 200 dives, but started offering the immersive Titanic experience in 2021, per The Daily Beast.
If the submersible is still underwater, there is no way to rescue those aboard.
There is a possibility the submersible has returned to the ocean’s surface, but if it is still underwater, a rescue mission is likely out of the question. To date, the deepest submarine rescue that’s been accomplished traveled down only 1,500 feet—and the Titan could be as far as 13,000 feet down, per CBS News.
Very few vessels can manage to go that deep, and if they are able to recover the submersible, it could take weeks. Searchers are currently scouring the area around the Titanic wreckage for the boat, and weather conditions have improved since the submersible went missing. Hopefully, the Titan will be found soon.
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Olivia Evans (she/her) is an editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Her work has previously appeared in The Cut and Teen Vogue. She loves covering topics where culture and wellness intersect. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, and watching rom-coms.
