Search efforts are underway in the Atlantic Ocean for a tourist submarine that has gone missing during a dive to see Titanic wreckage. OceanGate Expeditions of Washington conducted this research mission to study how quickly its famed ocean liner sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912.
Cost
OceanGate Expeditions’ eight-day Titanic shipwreck excursion comes at a steep cost. Each seat costs $250,000 per seat. OceanGate plans six trips this year that allow visitors to explore depths of up to four thousand feet below sea level, complete with training, equipment, accommodations before departure, personal insurance coverage, etc.
The tour consists of multiple steps, beginning with a two-hour training session on a surface vessel and concluding with dives to the Titanic. Scientists accompany guests to monitor its wreckage and assist with research such as tracking its decay rate; tours also aim to spread awareness about this historic ship while creating awareness. However, some relatives of victims of the 1912 disaster have objected to these trips as disrespectful of them.
OceanGate tours feature more than just exploring the Titanic; they include lectures and discussions with experts in marine archaeology and deep ocean marine biology. Visitors can be involved in opening or assisting navigation of the OceanGate submersible. No prior diving experience is necessary, although a medical exam must take place.
Individuals seeking the trip must travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland. OceanGate uses the Polar Prince surface ship to transport people and the submersible – named Titan – directly to the wreck site. Once at sea level, the descent takes several hours.
OceanGate released a YouTube video by OceanGate in October that shows past participants have described their OceanGate experience as remarkable, hailing the submarine and marveling that such an iconic vessel could even exist in real life.
But companies offer tourists excursions to view other sunken ships besides the Titanic. Their cost can be considerably less; some even allow guests to see coral reefs or shallow sea floors!
Duration
OceanGate Expeditions began offering this excursion to Titanic wreck site visitors in 2021 for $250,000. Each tour lasts eight days of travel and diving at seabed depth, allowing participants to follow Jacques Cousteau’s footsteps as underwater explorers; past participants have included chefs, actors, and bankers.
Submersible Titan can carry five people during each dive. Its crew includes a captain, an expert on Titanic history, and three paying passengers; scientific research may also take place; however, its primary function is designed to endure extreme conditions of the deep Atlantic, such as temperatures as low as minus 85 degrees Fahrenheit with metal-eating bacteria that threaten its life.
OceanGate states that this journey can only be afforded by the very wealthy. Beyond its initial price of $250,000, additional expenses include airfare and food costs. A charter ship must transport tourists and submersible to Newfoundland for their adventure on Titanic.
Submarine tourism can be a hazardous venture for any passenger. But thanks to the Titanic incident, greater attention has been drawn to this niche industry that caters mainly to wealthy individuals – an activity that increasingly appeals to rich individuals as training and costly trips have even ended tragically.
OceanGate, the submersible’s owner, had planned to relaunch Titanic voyages in 2024, but now their plans may change; passengers have no idea what their fate will be; possibly paying for a rescue mission is possible, and the company has released a statement saying they are exploring all possible solutions to bring the crew back safely; it remains unknown what caused their disappearance as search continues.
Experience
OceanGate, a marine exploration and tourism company, offers Titanic submarine tours at $250,000 a seat; each seat provides an unforgettable experience. Their submersible Titan is 22 feet long and weighs 23,000 pounds, capable of diving to 13,000 feet depth while carrying five people, including its captain and knowledgeable guide knowledgeable of the wreck’s location.
The Titanic has been submerged since it sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912, killing over 1,500 people. Over time, its hull has become covered with marine life while slowly decomposing through metal-eating bacteria; additionally, it houses numerous artifacts.
OceanGate Expeditions provides an eight-day trip, which includes diving on the Titanic. Scheduled for June 12-30th, 2018, their tour costs $250,000. There will be six voyages run this year by OceanGate Expeditions.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush revealed in a 2022 interview that OceanGate Titanic expeditions targeted “super-rich individuals who’ve long been passionate about Titanic.” About half of his customers are passionate fans, while half are big-budget travelers interested in space travel or other superb ideas.
The Titanic Experience begins with a seven-day cruise from Newfoundland to its shipwreck site. Passengers spend one full day on the ocean floor, witnessing incredible close-up views of its sunken ship and surroundings – truly unique views that no textbook or guidebook can match! As stated on their website, the tour is educational and provides unique ideas about a unique aspect of the shipwreck experience.
Gary Harding of Washington state was among the first tourists to experience the Titanic submersible journey. After paying $110,000 in 2019, which ultimately fell through, Harding returned on another successful voyage last year, where OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet joined him.
Submarining the Titanic offers an unforgettable travel experience due to its small size. Loaded onto an oil rig servicing vessel for transportation to its wreck site, its journey may last two days at sea – though some passengers may not find this mode suitable.
Safety
On June 20, 2023, when a Titanic submarine tour disappeared without a trace, it raised questions over their safety. OceanGate Expeditions charged $250,000 per person for their submersible time. They touted it as an unforgettable “once-in-a-lifetime experience” worth every cent they set.
This tour utilizes a 22-foot submersible that seats five people, and it is the only submersible of its kind able to access the Titanic wreck, located 350 miles off Newfoundland in Canada. Passengers depart St John’s aboard a surface vessel before traveling by submersible to reach it; during their dive, they are monitored by specialists from an onboard command center; lectures by scientists are also presented along with research tasks they may assist with during this adventure.
Even though the company claims the submarine has a life support system that lasts 96 hours, experts have raised doubts regarding its safety. According to these experts, since it operated in international waters, it did not fall under vessel safety rules governing vessel operation; Stockton Rush, who designed it, denied these allegations.
He is a well-recognized engineer known for designing other deep-sea vessels. However, recently, his safety measures at his company have come under fire; legal documents reveal he was aware of issues regarding its design and safety concerns related to this submarine project.
The missing submersible was on its third trip to the Titanic wreck, carrying passengers such as a chef, actor, and banker. According to its company’s statement regarding these trips, these excursions offer guests an opportunity to follow in Jacques Cousteau’s footsteps – it is no surprise that these trips can be so costly.
Titanic tours can be life-altering experiences, but they’re not suitable for everyone. Nikolas Xiros, an ocean engineering professor from the University of New Orleans, says he would not go down in a submersible without being attached to a surface ship first; even those connected to motherships still pose dangers – clearly showing why their submarine wasn’t safe enough to travel that deep underwater.
