OceanGate Inc is a private company based in Washington, US and founded in 2009. The company offers under water adventures for various purposes including tourism, research, and exploration. Their paying tourists are offered an opportunity to visit the wreck of the Titanic in a submersible.
A submersible is an underwater vessel that offers a range of capabilities that cater to various tasks. Unlike submarines, which are self-sustaining and capable of independent underwater cruising with their own power supply and air renewal system, submersibles rely on external support to operate effectively after a shorter period.
Submersibles are designed with a specific purpose in mind, whether scientific research, deep-sea exploration, or commercial demand etc.
The RMS Titanic (Titanic) was a passenger ship owned by White Star Line, with its port of registry in Liverpool, England. She was the biggest ship at the time, standing at 882+ feet long, a breadth of 92+ feet, and height of 104 feet. Titanic embarked on its initial trip from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States, and unfortunately struck an iceberg which led to the deadliest sinking of a single ship as of April 1912.
Over 2,000 passengers where aboard the Titanic and more than 1,500 died.
OceanGate’s deep-sea research vessel, Titan, has embarked on a series of historic dives to the Titanic wreck. As the first survey expedition of its kind, the cost of a ticket to join the exploration team was reportedly $250,000 (2022). The first dive was moved from 2018 to 2021 because the company could not secure the required permit for their surface support vessel.
The Titan reportedly made 6 trips to the Titanic wreck in 2021, and 7 in 2022.
Unfortunately, the Titan has been missing for over 100 hours since its dive to the wreck on June 18 2023. The voyage was intended to provide an opportunity for the 5 passengers to witness the wreckage of the RMS Titanic up close. However, their journey took an unexpected and tragic turn when Titan disappeared approximately 400 nautical miles south-southeast of the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
During this time of immense grief, worry and mourning, our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the families, friends, and colleagues of those who tragically got lost at sea.
