A submersible used to visit the wreck of the Titanic has gone missing just weeks after the US and UK called for greater protection for the site.
A US Coast Guard operation is underway after a company that runs tours to the ship said that it had lost contact with the small carbon fibre vessel, according to reports.
It was not clear how many people were on board the submersible, reportedly operated by OceanGate Expeditions, a private company which runs eight-day trips to the area.
“Our entire focus is on crewmembers in the submersible and their families,” OceanGate said in a statement reported by US broadcaster CBS.
“We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to reestablish contact with the submersible.
“We are working toward the safe return of the crewmembers.”
The company’s website says that it conducted successful trips to the site in the last two years and was due to return this summer. The expeditions involve a team of six, the outfit said, with the submersible going to a maximum depth of 3,800 metres.
The company said that it conducted expeditions “respectfully” and in line with UN guidelines on the preservation of underwater heritage sites.
The Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg in the northwest Atlantic, with the loss of 1,523 lives. The wreck, discovered in 1985, is about 600kms off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada
In a circular to the International Maritime Organization last month, the UK and the US said that they wanted stronger legal protection for the wreck given the “historic, cultural and societal significance” of the Titanic.
The sinking of the Titanic led to the creation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) with the first version adopted in 1914.
“Although the wreck is located at a very great depth, the sophisticated equipment used to visit the wreck site is becoming more commonplace, which could detrimentally affect the preservation of the wreck site as more people visit,” the two countries’ delegations said.
“Whilst the sinking of the Titanic was undoubtedly a human tragedy, all nations have benefitted from the safety improvements which arose from the aftermath and we owe it to those who gave their lives to ensure that their memory is not forgotten and that the wreck is protected and preserved for future generations.”
