According to the US Coast Guard, the debris and evidence retrieved from the seafloor where the remnants of the ill-fated Titan submersible were discovered include what is believed to be human remains. The Coast Guard stated in a news release that the remains were found “within the wreckage” of the submersible. This announcement comes almost a week after authorities that the vessel headed for the Titanic had suffered an implosion in the North Atlantic, resulting in the tragic loss of all five crew members.
The US military branch has announced that the presumed remains, which will undergo analysis by American medical professionals, were part of the evidence retrieved from the submersible. This evidence has recently been transported to a pier in Canada.
Pelagic Research Services, the company responsible for the remotely operated vehicles that recovered Titan’s remains from the depths, has informed CNN that they have currently achieved success in completing the offshore operations.
Photographs taken by Paul Daly of The Canadian Press revealed that several pieces of debris from the anchor-handling vessel Horizon Arctic were unloaded onto the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Labrador. Among the debris was a piece resembling a tall panel, which was larger than the two men accompanying it, and another similarly sized part covered with a white tarp and adorned with cords and wires.
The nature of those particular debris pieces remains unknown at this time. According to OceanGate Expeditions, the operator of Titan, the submersible was constructed using carbon fiber and titanium materials, weighing approximately 23,000 pounds. Designed with limited capacity, it was capable of accommodating a maximum of five adults. This unique vessel was utilized as a part of OceanGate’s exclusive opportunity for adventurous tourists to approach the century-old remains of the Titanic, with a cost of $250,000 per person.
As per the official statement from the company, the crew members have been diligently working without pause for a total of ten consecutive days. Throughout this operation, they have faced both physical and mental difficulties. The team is now eager to successfully accomplish the mission and reunite with their families and loved ones.
Pelagic Research Services has directed inquiries to the US Coast Guard and has stated that their team is unable to offer any comments or provide information pertaining to the investigation into the loss of the Titan. The company has announced plans to hold a news conference at its operations base in East Aurora, New York, once its team has regrouped.
The spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada refrained from providing comments to CNN, stating that additional details related to their investigation will be made available as necessary.
Back on June 18, the OceanGate submersible and its five occupants commenced their descent to explore the 111-year-old remains of the Titanic. However, approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the dive, communication between the craft and its mother ship was lost. Failing to resurface as scheduled, this incident triggered a large-scale, international search and rescue effort that generated widespread attention worldwide.
On Thursday, the US Coast Guard made an official statement indicating that the vessel had experienced a “catastrophic implosion,” which is presumed to have resulted in the loss of all individuals on board.
During the search, a remotely operated vehicle discovered the remnants of the submersible, including the tail cone, and other debris located approximately 1,600 feet away from the bow of the Titanic.
The military branch announced that it has initiated a Marine Board of Investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the implosion and provide appropriate recommendations, including the pursuit of civil or criminal sanctions if deemed necessary. According to a news release issued by the Coast Guard on Wednesday, the members of the investigation board are currently gathering evidence and conducting interviews with witnesses in preparation for a forthcoming public hearing, where further witness testimony will be presented.
On Wednesday, Captain Jason Neubauer, the leader of the investigative board, emphasized that there remains a significant amount of analysis and investigation required in order to comprehensively comprehend the factors that contributed to the destructive loss of the Titan. The objective is to gain insight from this incident and implement measures to prevent a recurrence of such a tragic event in the future.
#Titan #Submersible #US #Canada
