A Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina HC-130 Hercules airplane flies over the French research vessel, L’Atalante approximately 900 miles East of Cape Cod during the search for the 21-foot submersible, Titan, June 21, 2023. The unified command is searching for five people after the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince lost contact with their submersible during a dive on June 18, 2023. – Courtesy Photo
Boston, Mass. — June 22, 2023
The United States Coast Guard announced during a press conference on Thursday that they have made a significant discovery related to the Titanic wreckage. The tail cone of the 21-foot Titan submersible was found approximately 1600 feet away from the bow of the ill-fated ship on the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean.
All occupants of the submersible are presumed to have died.
The revelation came after an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) conducted a thorough search and, in consultation with experts from the unified command, uncovered additional debris that is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber of the Titan, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Upon making this determination, Rear Admiral John Mauger, speaking on behalf of the United States Coast Guard and the entire unified command, said he wasted no time in notifying the families. “I offer my deepest condolences to the families. I can only imagine what this has been like for them, and I hope that this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time,” said Rear Admiral Mauger.
The United States Coast Guard has also been in close contact with the British and French Consul General to ensure that they are fully informed about the situation and to address any concerns they may have. The support received from various agencies and personnel involved in this highly complex search operation has been robust and greatly appreciated, according to Rear Admiral Mauger. Who added, the international assistance provided has been invaluable.
The ROVs will remain at the scene of the discovery to gather further information. Rear Admiral Mauger reiterated his condolences to the loved ones of the five aboard the Titan.
In a statement released on Thursday, OceanGate, the company associated with the Titan submersible, confirmed the presumed loss of several individuals. “We now believe that our CEO, Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost,” the statement read.
Ocean Gate Expeditions asked for privacy Thursday afternoon in a Tweet:
EXPEDITIONS
June 22, 2023
We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost.
These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans. Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.
This is an extremely sad time for our dedicated employees who are exhausted and grieving deeply over this loss. The entire OceanGate family is deeply grateful for the countless men and women from multiple organizations of the international community who expedited wide-ranging resources and have worked so very hard on this mission. We appreciate their commitment to finding these five explorers, and their days and nights of tireless work in support of our crew and their families.
This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community, and for each of the family members of those lost at sea. We respectfully ask that the privacy of these families be respected during this most painful time.”
