A submersible that occasionally ferries tourists to the wreckage of the Titanic has disappeared in the Atlantic. Boston’s coast guard told the British broadcaster the BBC on Monday that the vehicle was being searched off the coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland.
The private company Oceangate Expeditions confirmed that there were people on board. “We are reviewing and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely,” the BBC said in a statement.
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“Our attention is given to the crew of the submersible and their families. We are working for the safe return of the crew.”
It was initially unclear if tourists were also on board. According to the BBC, the submersibles can accommodate up to five people: a captain, a maximum of three tourists and an expert.
Thus, the company had recently announced that an expedition was on the way. Thus, the tours last a total of eight days and cost 250,000 US dollars (229,000 euros) per person. The company is promoting the carbon fiber submersible rides as a chance to “get out of the ordinary and discover something truly extraordinary,” according to the BBC.
The “Titanic” sank in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912, killing more than 1,500 people. The remains of the famous luxury liner were discovered in 1985 at a depth of around 3,800 meters. Only recently, with the help of high-resolution 3D imaging, have scientists offered the most accurate representation of the wreck to date.