The Titan Submersible from Everett based OceanGate is missing near the wreckage of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean
With rescue efforts moving quickly in the North Atlantic Ocean those close to the Everett based Titan submersible are anxious, hopeful, and trying to avoid thinking about the worst.
“I want to say first, our thoughts and focus remain with the crew of the Titan and their families” Sean Leet, the Chairman at Horizon Maritime, told reporters Wednesday morning in Newfoundland.
A Horizon crew was the last to see the five people onboard the Titan before the 22-foot submersible was lowered into the Atlantic.
“We have been supporting the Titanic expeditions for several years. The Polar Prince, a 72-meter vessel, remains at the Titanic site participating in rescue efforts” Leet was noticeably emotional during a news conference, but the arrival of the Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System offers some hope “The equipment that’s been mobilized for this is the finest in the world” he says, “I think as you’re aware there’s still life support available on the submersible.”
The Flyaway can reach depths of 20,000 feet, Titanic sits at just under 13,000 feet.
“I’m not really sure this is the time” Digital Marketing Tycoon Chris Brown tells Good Morning, America he gave up a seat on the Titan over concerns about safety.
“You think about all the risks that might be involved” but he would only say this “You see if you don’t have an appetite for those risks” he says, seemingly outlining is reasons for canceling his trip.
In a 2018 lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Seattle, an engineering report from the Director of Marine Operations at OceanGate, revealed the submersible needed more testing that “Passengers might be endangered when it reached ‘extreme depths.”
There’s still no clear idea what might have happened but contact with the Titan crew was lost on Sunday as it was heading toward the wreckage of the Titanic.
