According to David Gallo, if the submarine is intact, the people on board would be dealing with gradually decreasing oxygen levels and fighting the cold. He said it in conversation pro CNN.
He raised the possibility of hypothermia as a potential problem if the submarine were still on the ocean floor, as the temperature in the ocean depths is just above freezing.
He emphasized that one of the key questions is where the submarine is located. Whether it is on the bottom, floating or in the middle of the water has not yet been determined. Gallo added that we have to wait and hope before we have more information.
Once the submarine is located, the team may face even greater challenges in trying to rescue the crew.
The US Coast Guard reported that they lost contact with the submarine one hour and 45 minutes after their dive on Sunday. The crew is estimated to have between 70 and 96 hours of life support in the form of oxygen and heat, according to officials.
A British adventurer, a French diver and a Pakistani father and son are on board, according to social media posts and a family statement. News TV Sky News stated that British billionaire Hamish Harding is among the participants of the expedition. French pilot Paul-Henry Nargeolet and OceanGate founder Stockton Rush are to be in the submarine with him.
In a statement, the company said “all options” were being explored to bring the crew back safely. However, it did not confirm the exact number of people who went missing, the server said India Today.
Journey by submarine to the Titanic
Foto:
Facebook / OceanGateExped
The wreck of the Titanic lies on the ocean floor at a depth of nearly 13,000 feet, southeast of Newfoundland, Canada.
No diving experience is required for a trip to the Titanic wreck, according to the travel agency’s website
According to an archived version of the website of the expedition operator OceanGate, no previous diving experience is required before entering their Titanic Wreck Visit program.
The first digital scan of the Titanic
Foto:
Atlantic Productions/Magellan
In order to become members of the mission, those interested must be adults at least 18 years old at the start of the expedition and pay the amount of 250,000 US dollars. This information was included in an archived version of the itinerary that was available at the time CNN accessed it, but is currently no longer available on the official website.
“You don’t need any previous (diving) experience!” said the website’s archived FAQ section. “You will learn everything you need to know for your dive aboard the expedition vessel and we will help you prepare for the expedition before you join us on the ship.”
Applicants must “be able to live aboard an expedition ship for a week” and “be able to demonstrate core strength, balance and flexibility,” the website said.
What could have happened to the submarine?
There is much uncertainty surrounding the events surrounding the missing submarine, which lost contact with the crew on the surface during its dive towards the wreck of the Titanic on Sunday.
Despite the silence that the submarine has not transmitted or communicated for a day and a half, experts express pessimism and the chances of a successful find are small. There are several possible causes that could be involved in this event.
One of the main risks is an electrical system failure, which could cause a loss of communication, according to University of Adelaide submarine expert Associate Professor Eric Fusil. Some submarines are equipped with a backup power source in case the primary system fails, but it is unclear if this submarine had a backup power source at the time of its disappearance.
Another potential danger is a fire on board, which would not only cause damage to the vessel’s systems, but also create toxic fumes in a small confined space, posing a serious threat to those on board.
Journey by submarine to the Titanic
Foto:
Facebook / OceanGateExped
Flooding is always a risk, and in the depths where the wreck of the Titanic lies, the enormous pressure could cause most submarines to implode, as Fusil points out. However, according to the vessel’s operator, the Titan submarine is equipped with an innovative safety feature that monitors the pressure inside the hull and issues a warning to the pilot if problems are detected.
Finally, there is also the risk of entanglement. Strong water currents and debris fields around the Titanic wreck can cause a submarine to become trapped or have its path blocked, Fusil explains.
Source: eurozpravy.cz
