The U.S. Coast Guard announced a debris field was found about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic in the search for the missing submersible research vessel called the Titan which disappeared June 18.
A remotely operated vehicle deployed to the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctic found the tail part of the 21-foot submersible and other debris, according to a June 22 statement.
“This is a complex search effort which requires multiple agencies with subject matter expertise and specialized equipment which we have gained through the unified command,” Capt. Jamie Frederick, response coordinator from the First Coast Guard District, said in a June 20 news release. “While the Coast Guard has assumed the role of Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, we do not have all of the necessary expertise and equipment required in a search of this nature. The Unified Command brings that expertise and additional capability together to maximize effort in solving this complex problem.”
The effort began as a search and rescue operation after the Titan disappeared June 18 during a dive to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, the release reported. The submersible had five people on board and was scheduled to resurface 3 p.m., but contact was lost less than two hours into the trip.
In response to the incident, a unified command was established, bringing together the resources and expertise of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and OceanGate Expeditions. This collaborative effort aimed to maximize search efforts and increase the chances of locating the missing vessel and its crew, according to the release.
The search operation had already covered a vast area of more than 10,000 square miles, taking advantage of favorable weather conditions, the release reported. As part of the intensified efforts, additional assets, including vessels and remotely operated vehicles, had been mobilized to the designated search area.
On June 20, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh saidd during a briefing that two C-130 aircraft had conducted search flights over the designated area. To further bolster the search, an Air National Guard C-130 also joined the efforts. These aircraft are equipped for various missions, including search and rescue operations.
