The crew members aboard the missing submarine, which embarked on a journey to explore the wreckage of the Titanic but lost all communication, are now at risk of hypothermia as their air supply dwindles, an expert has warned.
David Gallo, a senior advisor at RMS Titanic and an oceanographer, expressed concerns over the crew’s well-being, including British billionaire Hamish Harding, UK-based Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son Sulaiman Dawood.
With decreasing oxygen levels and the cold environment, the crew faces a challenging situation.
As the search intensifies, the recently unveiled final photos capture the small underwater craft departing from St. John’s port in Canada.
The 21-foot submarine was towed by the mothership MV Polar Prince towards the Titanic wreckage site in the Atlantic Ocean.
However, after the haunting images were taken, the submarine descended to a depth of 12,500 feet, losing all communication with the Polar Prince, approximately 350 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
The families of the crew members, including Shahzada’s wife Christina and daughter Alina, are enduring an agonizing wait for any news about their loved ones, desperately hoping for their safe recovery before the onboard oxygen depletes in around 50 hours.
In a statement, the Dawood family expressed gratitude for the concern shown by colleagues and friends and requested prayers for the safety of the crew.
However, Gallo cautioned that hypothermia poses a real threat to those on board the submarine, given the near-freezing temperatures at the ocean’s depths.
Time is of the essence as rescue teams from the United States and Canada race against the clock to locate the 21-foot vessel, which is believed to have last transmitted a signal while directly above the Titanic wreck.
The submarine is estimated to have enough oxygen to sustain the crew until 12 PM on Thursday UK time (7 AM EST). The sub, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, embarked on its £195,000-per-person tour of the Titanic wreck on Sunday, descending to the depths of 12,500 feet.
However, communication was lost with the mothership MV Polar Prince during the two-hour descent, triggering a frantic search for the missing vessel and its crew before their air supply is depleted.
As the rescue efforts unfold, concerns arise that the submarine may have become lodged in the Titanic wreckage, located 370 miles off Newfoundland in US waters.
Experts worry that traditional manned rescue submarines, such as the US Navy sub-limited to 2,000 feet, may not reach the necessary depth, potentially requiring the deployment of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of reaching depths up to 20,000 feet.
The exact location of the missing submersible remains unknown, with Gallo explaining the challenges involved in rescuing the crew if the vessel is located.
The deep-sea environment, with its immense pressure, frigid temperatures, and pitch-black darkness, presents significant obstacles.
Shahzada Dawood, his son Sulaiman, British businessman Hamish Harding, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush are the individuals anxiously awaited by their families.
The Dawood family, among the wealthiest in Pakistan but with strong UK ties, is enduring the distressing wait.
Shahzada holds prominent positions in corporations and charitable organizations, including Engro Corporation and the Dawood Hercules Corporation.
OceanGate is collaborating with government agencies and deep-sea companies in their rescue efforts.
While time is running out, the US and Canadian coast guards, along with commercial ships equipped with sonar buoys, are conducting an extensive search in the remote region of the ocean.
The situation remains critical, with Rear Admiral John W. Mauger emphasizing the risks involved and the intensive efforts to locate the submersible.
The unfolding tragedy has drawn attention and concern from various individuals, with diver and writer Mike Reiss expressing optimism based on his previous experience and knowledge of the logistics involved.
However, historian Tim Maltin voiced his worries about the crew’s safety, acknowledging the immense challenges posed by the deep-sea environment.
As the search and rescue operations continue, the fate of the missing submarine and its crew remains uncertain.
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