The US Coast Guard has given a major update on Thursday afternoon after it is thought that the Titan submersible has run out of breathable oxygen at 12.08pm today.
Rear Admiral John Mauger, who is leading the rescue mission, said they are still carrying out an “active search” for the Titan and the five crew members.
Mauger explained that they are “using the equipment that we have on the bottom right now” of the two remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs).
Mauger said: “This is still an active search and rescue at this point and we’re using the equipment that we have on the bottom right now, the remote operated vehicles to expand our search capability, and then also to provide rescue capability as well.”
Sky News asked if he believes the oxygen on board has run out, Mauger said, “We continue to keep the crew members and the families in our thoughts as we proceed with this search and rescue while we’re cognisant of the time and we’ve factored in a lot of data and information into the search.”
He added, “We have two ROVs that are capable of operating on the seafloor and are operating on the seafloor right now.
“Both of them have camera capability, they have sonar capability, they have articulated arms that are capable of attaching equipment, attaching a rescue line, also moving any obstructions that might be in the way, and most important they are on the seafloor now, so this is the equipment that we need.
“We have world-leading experts in the unified command that are advising us.”
On Sunday the Titan lost contact with the mothership the Polar Prince and it is believed that there was 96 hours of oxygen on board at the time.
Onboard the Titan is British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, Pakistani father and son Shahzada Dawood, 48, Suleman, 19, and OceanGate CEO and pilot of the Titan Stockton Rush, 61.
