A deep-sea robot searching for a missing submarine near the Titanic wreckage has discovered a debris field, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday.
According to the coast guard, the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) found the debris field within the designated search area, and experts are currently evaluating the findings.
Coast Guard officials have scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon to provide detailed information about the recent discovery. The briefing aims to shed light on the nature and significance of the debris field located near the Titanic.
In addition to deploying underwater robots, search planes, and ships, a comprehensive search operation is underway in the northern Atlantic Ocean to locate the missing 21-foot submersible named Titan. One of the robots began searching the ocean floor, and an additional robot joined the search effort on Thursday.
The Titan embarked on its journey into the Atlantic Ocean from a Canadian research vessel on Sunday morning. However, contact with the submarine was lost approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its dive, leaving its whereabouts unknown.
Authorities had previously stated that the submarine carried a limited amount of oxygen, providing a potential survival timeline of 96 hours, until Thursday morning. While the remaining oxygen supply is an important consideration, Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick emphasized that it is not the sole factor determining whether to continue the search.
Guillermo Sohnlein, co-founder of OceanGate, the company that owns the missing sub, expressed the significance of the ongoing search. Sohnlein shared a statement on Facebook, suggesting that the group may have extended their life support supplies by conserving energy. He remains hopeful, believing that the available window for rescue may be longer than commonly thought.
As the search operation continues in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, the discovery of the debris field raises hopes of finding crucial clues about the fate of the missing submarine and its occupants. Further updates will be provided during the Coast Guard’s press conference, as authorities work diligently to unravel this ongoing maritime mystery.
