titanic tourist sub

Titanic tourist submersible goes missing with search under way - BBC News

 

With the weather in the area, hopefully it is just "missing" and not a DISSUB situation. As I have seen no press releases on a DISSUB activation, I hope for the best. Still, the clock is ticking....

 

DISSUB situation. - Search (bing.com)

 

I pretty much agree with these three scenarios. Except the "implosion" may not have been all that quick given the hull construction.

3 scenarios probably cover what happened to the Titanic submersible, experts say. Only one carries much chance of survival. https://news.yahoo.com/3-scenarios-probably-cover-happened-152707232.html

 

Seems somewhat odd that they have no EPRIB or similar, especially after the MH370 disaster too.

 

They probably have one in the bailout bag, but it is not time enough to use that (perhaps tomorrow).

Here is what I can determine from the news articles and OceanGate websites.

TITAN is a 5 place submersible with a CF/Ti pressure housing designed for 4000m. It is launched and recovered from a free floating L&R platform. I could find no reference to certification, only proof dives. https://oceangate.com/pdf/oceangate-titan-specs-lr.pdf and OceanGate Press Releases https://oceangate.com/news-and-media/press-releases.html

Life support is stated 96 hours. If typical this is hatch shut to hatch open, with the total endurance generally 2x mission length + 72 hours. Given that communication was lost 1:45 into the descent and was declared missing (i.e. failed to return to comms; either acoustic or radio) 8 hours later, generally supports a typical 12 hour hatch shut to hatch open mission. Note that losing comms is not that all uncommon in DSV missions, also the sea state apparently was marginal for operations. If on the surface without being docked to the L&R platform, I would not expect the operator of a vehicle shaped like this, in the reported seaway, to open the hatch until forced to.

Generally, submerged DSVs are tracked from the surface using a SBL or USBL sonar system. This is to allow the mother ship to maneuver to avoid and be alongside when the vehicle descends/ascends. TITAN is stated as having a Teledyne Benthos acoustic modem USBL fitted, but I'm unsure if that is for vehicle or MoShip or both. Again it is not uncommon to lose connection as the vehicle passes through layers, especially with acoustic modem systems.

Because this is not my design review, I won't provide my personal speculation. As I've said before, deep submergence is where the wrong installation of an o-ring can kill you in devious ways. What really worries me though is this statement on the TITAN Submersible webpage:

This reminds me a lot of the Pertrobras P-36 sinking where the management stated:

https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-s...lossofpetrobrasp36-vits.pdf?sfvrsn=c4a91ef8_4

 

Did you know that a Marine Group warned the CEO to not endeavor to run this operation due to safety concerns?

Resurfaced letter to OceanGate CEO shows experts warned of catastrophic disaster over 'experimental' Titanic submarine https://www.unilad.com/news/resurfaced-letter-to-oceangate-ceo-shows-experts-warned-disaster-621465-20230620/

Hope I'm early and wrong..

 

Missing Titanic Sub Once Faced Massive Lawsuit Over Depths It Could Safely Travel To | The New Republic

 

When you get into the details of this link; it is really troubling how this business is so ungoverned.

 

Here is the telling point from that article and why Navy One-Man One-Atmosphere Diving System (NOMOADS, developed circa late 1980's to early 1990's) was never certified.

 

Do you really want to get the USCG involved into the design, construction, and regulation of voyages of small home-built vessels? Remember, there are no "passengers" on TITAN; they are all "expedition crew" members. TITAN does not "need" to be a documented vessel, any more than than your own constructions. Whether this is good or bad...I have my thoughts...

 

Just found out that the hatch is bolted from the outside....Passengers stuck in Titanic sub have no way out of vessel unless they're found https://www.unilad.com/news/titanic-submarine-missing-passengers-latest-updates-799290-20230620

Edit to add: I hope there would be an emergency release, otherwise you are setting up Apollo 1 again.

 

They paid to be there so, in my view, they are passengers...

 

This is encouraging: