The search for the missing submarine Titan is at a critical stage as the ship’s oxygen is running low. The submarine had 96 hours of oxygen before starting the expedition, but has been missing since Sunday. “There is still hope until proven otherwise, but it is becoming crucial,” says underwater archaeologist Martijn Manders of the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency.
Race against time
What began as an underwater expedition to the wreck of the Titanic has now become a race against time. The Titan submarine of the Ocean Gate shipping company disappeared from radar a few days ago off the Canadian coast. After days of searches, the submarine has not yet been found and meanwhile the oxygen on board is running out within a few hours. But according to Manders this is not the only problem: “The CO2 content on board is also increasing”.
“It remains a critical situation”
For example, the CO2 content can be increased rapidly in the event of a power outage. “So the filters used for this work work less well,” explains the underwater archaeologist. It is possible that there are chemicals on board and some blankets capable of absorbing CO2, “but it remains critical”. Also, severe oxygen deficiency will eventually become a problem. “However, we don’t know how much oxygen has already been consumed, if people on board have remained calm they will probably be able to use it longer,” Manders suspects.
Crucial point
Meanwhile, the US Navy is forcing itself to remain cautiously optimistic and continue its research with all its might. It makes sense, Manders says. “If you lose hope, morale is gone too.” According to the underwater archaeologist, such situations do not happen very often. It is therefore difficult to estimate how much hope there is. Maybe they’ll find the sub in a place where it can be lifted quickly. But time is running out.’
Because once the Titan has been located, it must first be hoisted up before people can be taken out. ‘Oxygen is the crux here. You can’t just inject oxygen the moment you find the tank, it has to go up first,’ explains Manders. Meanwhile, time is ticking and there’s a good chance the oxygen will run out around noon Dutch time.
Sounds of shots
Some hopeful messages about the search came out yesterday morning. For example, thumping noises would be heard. However, according to a former US Navy commander, these could also be natural sounds that exist in the ocean. Manders confirms that the sea is not a peaceful place, but “with the hope you can hold on to such a sound.”
“It’s damn hard to find the exact spot”
Even if the pounding sounds are indeed coming from the Titan, that doesn’t mean that the submarine too can be instantly tracked down and rescued. “It’s damn hard to find exactly where the underwater sound is coming from,” Manders says. And not only is sound hard to track, finding the submarine’s location is also very hard. “The sunken Titanic is huge, the submarine much smaller and the bottom isn’t flat either. These are all factors that make it difficult to map soil. Meanwhile, time is running out and the search continues unabated.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
