Update: Hamish Harding, British Adventurer, Rescued Safely After Titanic Sub Expedition

Renowned British Adventurer Hamish Harding Reported Missing on Titanic Submersible Expedition.Hamish Harding, a well-known British adventurer and chairman of aircraft firm Action Aviation, has been reported missing along with the crew on a submersible that was diving to the wreckage of the Titanic. The news was confirmed by Harding’s stepson, Brian Szasz, in a now-deleted post on Facebook. The operator of the submersible, OceanGate, has stated that their primary focus is on ensuring the safe return of the crew and that they are actively exploring all options to achieve this.

In recent updates shared on social media, Harding had announced the departure of a ship from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, en route to the Titanic wreck. The plan was for the crew to begin diving operations in the submersible at approximately 04:00 local time on Sunday. However, contact with the submersible was lost around one hour and 45 minutes into the dive, prompting a search and rescue operation.

The United States Coast Guard has deployed a sophisticated P-8 Poseidon aircraft with underwater detection capabilities to aid in the search. Rear Adm John W Mauger mentioned that teams are scouring an area approximately 900 miles (1450km) east of Cape Cod, with support from the Canadian armed forces and commercial vessels. The challenging and remote location is being diligently surveyed, utilizing sonar buoys and other resources to detect any signs of the submersible.

The UK’s Foreign Office has stated that it is in contact with Harding’s family following the reports of the missing submarine off the coast of North America. The situation remains critical, and efforts are being made to locate the craft and rescue those on board.

Ocean Gate Expeditions’ $250,000 (£195,600) per person, eight-day trip to the Titanic wreck offers participants a unique opportunity to explore the historic site. Starting in St. John’s, the journey involves traveling approximately 370 miles (595km) on a larger ship to reach the area above the wreck site. From there, participants embark on an eight-hour dive in the Titan, a submersible the size of a truck.

The Titan submersible is specifically designed to accommodate five people and is equipped with 96 hours of life support for the crew, as mentioned on the company’s website. Hamish Harding, a private jet dealer, was among those who embarked on this adventure. For him, the expedition to the Titanic was just one in a series of remarkable achievements, which included multiple visits to the South Pole, a spaceflight on Blue Origin’s fifth human-crewed mission in 2022, and setting three world records. One of these records involved spending the longest time at full ocean depth during a dive to the Mariana Trench’s deepest part.

Resting 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, the Titanic is located approximately 600km (370 miles) off the coast of Newfoundland. The ill-fated passenger liner, known for being the largest ship of its time, tragically struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912. The disaster resulted in the loss of over 1,500 lives out of the 2,200 passengers and crew members onboard.