That’s correct. The US Coast Guard is leading the rescue efforts, and it is unlikely that OceanGate or its customers will be expected to pay for the costs. The Coast Guard is responsible for rescuing people in distress, regardless of their circumstances. In this case, the people on board the submersible are not US citizens, but the Coast Guard has said that it will not consider nationality when making its rescue decisions.
The cost of the rescue efforts is likely to be in the millions of dollars. The Coast Guard has deployed several vessels and aircraft to the search area, using specialized equipment, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The ROVs can operate at depths of up to 4,000 meters, which is the depth of the Titanic wreck.
If the submersible is found, it may be too damaged to be rescued. However, the Coast Guard is committed to doing everything possible to find the submersible and its occupants.
Here are some additional details about the rescue efforts:
- The Coast Guard has deployed the following vessels to the search area: the USCGC Campbell, the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and the research vessel Alucia.
- The Coast Guard has also deployed several aircraft, including a C-130 Hercules and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.
- The Coast Guard uses specialized equipment, such as ROVs, to search for the submersible.
- The search area is a 10,000 square kilometre area of the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Coast Guard has said it will continue the search efforts until the submersible is found or until it is determined that the people on board are no longer alive.
The Coast Guard has not yet released an estimate of the cost of the rescue efforts, but it is likely to be significant. The Coast Guard has a budget of over $10 billion annually and is well-funded to conduct search and rescue operations. However, even with a large budget, the Coast Guard may need to request additional funding from Congress to cover the costs of the rescue efforts.
OceanGate or its customers may be asked to contribute to the costs of the rescue efforts, but they will likely be required to do so. The Coast Guard has the authority to waive the fees of rescue operations, and they are likely to do so in this case.
The rescue efforts for the missing Titanic sub are ongoing, and it is too early to say whether the submersible and its crew will be found. However, the Coast Guard is committed to doing everything possible to find the submersible and its occupants, and they are likely to cover the costs of the rescue efforts.
Additional Information:
- The submersible that went missing is the Titan, owned by OceanGate Expeditions.
- The Titan is a small submersible that can carry up to five people. It is designed for deep-sea exploration and can reach depths of up to 4,000 meters.
- The Titan was on a mission to explore the wreck of the Titanic when it lost contact with its mother ship.
- The Coast Guard has been leading the search for the Titan and deployed several vessels and aircraft to the search area.
- The search for the Titan is ongoing, and it is too early to say whether the submersible or its occupants will be found.
It also needs to be clarified whether OceanGate requires its customers to obtain insurance before their trips. Still, the passengers were likely aware of the risks of embarking on a dive in the submersible.
David Pogue, a CBS correspondent who tried the submersible last year, said he had to sign a waiver before participating in the dive that acknowledged the Titan was an “experimental vessel” that wasn’t this product/service is not approved or certified by any regulatory body. Its use could lead to physical harm, emotional distress, or even death.
The five people in the now-missing submersible knew the risks that came with the trip, Reiss added.
“They made it as safe as they could make it. They trusted their own lives to it,” Reiss said. “But they knew it could end this way.”
