Coast Guard, Canadian forces searching off Cape Cod for expedition sub missing near Titanic wreck

BOSTON — An international air and water search is underway off the coast of Cape Cod to find five people in a submersible that vanished in the Atlantic Ocean while aiming to visit the wreckage of the Titanic, a Coast Guard admiral said late Monday afternoon.

“What we’re focused on is finding those five people,” said Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander of the First Coast Guard District in Boston.

He said one commander and four “mission specialists” are on board the submersible. Mauger did not identify the five people on board the submersible on Monday.

The search to find the submersible is happening 900 miles east of Cape Cod, after Coast Guard officials were notified by the operator of the submersible that it was overdue, Mauger said. The last communication from the submersible was on Sunday, about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive.

The search that extends 13,000 feet beneath the ocean now involves U.S. and Canadian armed forces, with C-130 aircrafts from both countries, P8 aircraft from Canada, and submarines and sonar buoys looking for the submersible, he said.

“It is a remote area and it is a challenge to conduct a search in that remote area but we are deploying all available assets to makes sure that we can locate the craft and rescue the people on board,” he said.

Monday evening, officials were planning to launch C130 aircraft from New York’s National Guard “to make sure we have sufficient assets up there,” Mauger said.

Also Monday evening, search crews planned to move additional vessels into the area. The Coast Guard has been in contact with commercial vessels in the area, as well, Mauger said.

The submersible was designed with a 96-hour sustainment capability “so we’re making the best use of every moment of that time to locate the vessel,” he said.

Late Monday afternoon, Mauger anticipated the time frame to be “between 70 and the full 96 hours at this point.”

Crews are using sonar buoys to listen for sounds that can be detected in the water, he said. The U.S. Navy may become involved with rescue efforts if the submersible is found, he said.

“At this point, we’re focusing on the search and understanding the capabilities of the vessels that are being deployed to the scene,” Mauger said.

The submersible is operated by OceanGate Expeditions, which conducts expedition dives to the wreck of the Titanic, according to its website. The company is based out of Everett, Washington.

“You’re invited to join us on a deep-sea adventure to explore the 95% of the seafloor human eyes have rarely seen. Explore the Titanic wreck site in 2023,” the organization’s website states.

In a statement Monday, OceanGate Expeditions wrote that the company is “exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely.”

“Our entire focus is on the crewmembers in the submersible and their families,” the statement said. “We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible. We are working toward the safe return of the crewmembers.”

The company also provides underwater media production services and conducts dives for research and data collection purposes.

“OceanGate’s fleet of 5‑person submersibles allow marine scientists to conduct biological, chemical, geochemical, geological and geophysical studies, viewing and sampling organisms in their natural settings,” its website states.

In 2021 and 2022, OceanGate crews completed successful expeditions to the Titanic wreck to further document the site and its rate of decay, its website states. Eighteen expedition dives to the Titanic wreckage site, approximately 380 nautical miles south of Newfoundland, were planned for summer 2023 and beyond.

“Qualified explorers have the opportunity to join the expedition as Mission Specialist crewmembers whose Training and Mission Support Fees underwrite the mission, the participation of the science team, and their own training,” the OceanGate website states.

As search and rescue professionals, Mauger said, “we work very hard and our crews take this personally.”

“Our first thoughts are with the crew members and the families of those on board,” Mauger said. “We want to make sure that we’ve done everything that we can do to locate their family members and bring them home safe.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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