The trapped individual on the missing Titan submersible is a student enrolled at Strathclyde University in Glasgow. Suleman Dawood, 19, finds himself on board the vessel along with his father, Shahzada Dawood, and three others.
During the First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood, Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy expressed her concern for the teenager and his family, acknowledging the challenging and unprecedented circumstances they face. She requested that everyone present join her in sending their thoughts to the trapped student and his family.
The University of Strathclyde’s spokesperson conveyed their deep concern for Suleman, his father, and all others involved in this distressing incident. They expressed their support and solidarity with their families and loved ones, remaining hopeful for a positive resolution.
Although scientists are realistic about the slim chances of locating the Titan in the vast depths of the ocean, they still offer a glimmer of hope. Rob Larter, a marine geophysicist with the British Antarctic Survey, explained the immense difficulty in finding an object the size of the Titan in complete darkness. Active sonar from a surface ship would not suffice, and instead, a towed or autonomous vehicle near the seafloor is required. However, even these vehicles can only visualize a few meters ahead. Mr. Larter shared his previous experience with searches for hydrothermal vent sites, emphasizing the needle-in-a-haystack nature of such operations without a precise location.
Jamie Pringle, an expert in forensic geosciences at Keele University, emphasized the criticality of the first 24 hours in rescue operations like this, which have long elapsed in this situation. Although the chance of success diminishes over time, he acknowledged that there is never a zero probability. Mr. Larter referred to the current situation as a “desperate situation,” yet remained cautiously optimistic as long as possible, recognizing the unimaginable circumstances of people being trapped in a submersible with depleting oxygen supplies.
Despite concerns regarding the crew’s oxygen supply, the chief coordinator of the multinational mission, Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard, reiterated his unwavering focus on rescuing the five-member crew alive. He highlighted the importance of accounting for people’s will to live in complex cases and assured that the search and rescue efforts would persist.
Hope for finding the missing Titan with its passengers alive is rapidly diminishing. The only viable method of retrieving the submersible from the ocean floor is through the assistance of an unmanned remote-controlled robot sub equipped with a unique salvage system from the US Navy. The Victor 6000 ROV, which arrived on the French research vessel L’Atlante at 2 am, has the capability to reach depths of 20,000 feet, surpassing the location of the Titanic wreck. It can submerge and reach the wreckage at 12,500 feet in approximately two hours after entering the water, providing the only means of bringing the men’s submarine to the surface.
