As search operations continue for the missing Titan submersible in the North Atlantic, here’s what to know about the watercraft and how it is different from a submarine;
Titan, a Cyclops-class manned submersible by OceanGate, carrying five passengers commenced its dive on June 18, 2023 with the assistance of Polar Prince to reach the location of the Titanic wreckage near Newfoundland, Canada.
The 22-foot long watercraft lost contact with the US Coast Guard approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the dive.
Submersible vs Submarine: What’s the difference?
- A submersible is a watercraft designed for underwater operation. It differs from a submarine which is an independent cruiser with its own power and air supply.
- Submersibles require support from surface vessels or shore teams and can be connected via an umbilical cord. They serve various purposes such as oceanography, underwater archaeology, exploration and videography.
- Some submersibles have reached depths exceeding 10 kilometers while some submersibles are remotely operated.
- There are also human-occupied vehicles like the missing Titan.
- Designed for deep dives, Titan could carry up to five people to depths of approximately 4,000 meters (2.4 miles). It weighs around 10,432 kilograms (11.5 tons) and can travel at speeds of approximately 3 knots (5.5 kilometers or 3.4 miles per hour).
Oxygen on the missing Titanic submersible is expected to run out in hours, with hopes of finding the five people on board starting to fade.
This video shows a search for the Titan carried out by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
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Five people onboard the missing Titanic submarine were;
- OceanGate CEO & Founder Stockton Rush
- British businessman Hamish Harding
- Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood
- Shahzada Dawood’s son Sulaiman Dawood
- French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet
