Confirmation that the crew aboard the small submarine that disappeared when it hit the Titanic almost a week ago are all dead means that a major search operation launched in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean is now being given a new lease of life.
The US Coast Guard confirmed on Thursday afternoon that all five men aboard the submarine died following what was believed to be a “fatal accident” of a submersible from the OceanGate tour company in the area where the Titanic sank.
But many questions about what happened remain unanswered and finding answers is one way forward. US Coast Guard Chief John Mauger said he could not confirm whether the US Coast Guard will be able to find the bodies of the victims of the incident or not. Aboard the submarine were wealthy British businessmen Hamish Harding and Shahzada Dawood, whose son Suleman joined them on board the Titan. Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush was also part of the crew, along with former French navy diver Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
It is not clear yet which agency will lead the investigation as there is no specific protocol being followed in the shallow water area. The head of the US Coast Guard John Mauger said it was especially difficult because the incident took place in a remote part of the sea, involving people of different nationalities.
But after taking a leading role in the operation so far, the US Coast Guard may continue to play an important role in the rescue operation. Mauger added that they will continue to examine the debris and several instruments, while health workers and technicians will have to remain at the scene. And the Special Forces will leave in the next 24 hours.
Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) operating in the sea near the location of the Titanic will also remain for some time
“I don’t have a timetable for when we intend to suspend various maritime activities at this time,” said John Mauger, head of the US Coast Guard.
It will be important to collect as many pieces as possible, including pieces of carbon fiber that were used to build the vessel so that authorities can get a complete picture of what happened.
Efforts are underway to map the area where parts of Titan were found. Paul Hankin, an expert in deep-sea diving, explained that the search exercise has so far found five pieces and now an investigation will be carried out to confirm that it is a lost submarine.
Officials say five large pieces were found with the wreckage near the Titanic. Among them, is the nose of the submarine.
The head of the US Coast Guard John Mauger said the governments of the countries involved in the incident have been meeting to discuss how the investigation can be conducted. Those involved in any investigation will be looking to confirm the theory that an explosion killed those aboard Titan and, if so, when and why it happened.
The chief added that although the scope of this was outside his duties, broader questions about the principles and standards of the underwater exercise could be the focus of a future review. Another source of information about what happened to the Titan submarine can be – an underwater microphone that is used to listen to illegal tests of atomic weapons.
These helped determine that the Argentine submarine San Juan had been raided after it disappeared off the country’s coast in 2017. The microphones may have recorded the last steps of the company’s Oceangate Titan submarine and may provide a full-time picture of the moment the tragedy occurred.
The US Navy detected sounds “consistent with explosions” shortly after OceanGate’s Titan submarine lost contact, a navy official said.
By Hallan Emodia