Missing Titanic tourist submarine only has 96 hours of life support

The Titanic-bound tourist submarine that disappeared in the waters of Newfoundland on Sunday morning has only 96 hours of life support left, US Coast Guard officials said as the search continued past its first day.

The Coast Guard said on Monday that the submarine’s operator, OceanGate Expeditions, informed them that the missing vessel can sustain its five occupants for about four days before it runs out of oxygen.

“We’re doing everything we can do to locate the submersible and rescue those on board,” Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters.

Mauger, First District Commander and leader of the search and rescue mission, said the US was coordinating with Canada on the operation.

OceanGate Expeditions, a private company that provides tours for the Titanic wreckage site for as much as $250,000, confirmed that their Titan submarine had gone missing with crew members aboard about 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

Mauger said the location of the Titanic, about 12,500 feet at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, has proven a difficult search area.

Multiple US and Canadian ships and airplanes have been deployed to the area in search of the submarine in case it successfully returned from the depths but lacks the means of communication with its partnering surface boat.

An additional plane from the New York Coast Guard is preparing to be deployed to join the search Monday evening, officials said.

Mauger added that the Canadian Coast Guard has sent out multiple sonar buoys capable of detecting the submarine even at the bottom of the ocean.

“Right now we’re focused on locating the vessel,” Mauger said, adding that commercial ships and subs have joined the search.

“Our thoughts are with the families and the crew members aboard the submersible.”

The US Coast Guard confirmed that the research vessel Polar Prince had lost contact with Titan after about one hour and 45 minutes after it embarked below the seas in search of the Titanic.

The company noted that because of its location in the middle of the Atlantic, they rely on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites for its communications at sea. 

While officials declined to comment on the identity of the passengers, the family of World-renowned explorer Hamish Harding confirmed he was among those inside the sub when it disappeared.

The 58-year-old British millionaire had been boasting about the opportunity to see the Titanic in the days leading up to the voyage.

Harding also said that among those joining him on the mission was veteran Frenchy Navy diver P.H. Nargeolet, who has led previous expeditions to the Titanic.

It remains unclear if Nargeolet is among those missing.