Seeing the Titanic on its deathbed is possible. How? Paying a fortune and traveling to the depths of the Atlantic in a modern submersible, one of which was lost. On Thursday they found remains of it and the authorities confirmed that its five crew members died.
The submersibles are owned by OceanGate Expeditions, a company that organizes such expeditions.
OceanGate was giving a small group of tourists a chance to see the Titanic during a 10-day mission, including eight days at sea, according to its tour brochure. Customers paid $250,000 to travel on the submersible called "Titan."
Images of the deck of the Titanic. Photo: Reuters
Once on board, the plan included traveling about 2 miles to the wreckage on the ocean floor.
Only six "mission specialist" positions were available for each mission, according to the brochure.
The OceanGate submersible was designed in collaboration with NASA to provide a safe experience at that depth.
OceanGate said the air pressure inside the submarine named 'Titan' "remains constant and equal to what we experience at sea level, eliminating the need for decompression during ascent."
Once in the background, the Titan's cameras provide a live view of the Titanic, which crew members can view on a large screen onboard or on their own tablets.
An underwater drone inspects the wreckage of the Titanic. Photo: Reuters
On the mission they can select a camera, monitor sonar or view preloaded images of deep-sea species and the Titanic while experiencing a completely alien world that only a few people have had the privilege of knowing," the tour brochure reads.
Training to be able to descend
OceanGate accepted applications from those interested in joining Expedition Titanic 2023 as a "mission specialist."
Those interested had to be at least 18 years old at the beginning of the expedition and be able to board small boats in rough seas, according to the company. They also had to have a valid passport and "be comfortable in dynamic environments where plans and schedules may change."
Physically, have basic strength, balance, mobility and flexibility. OceanGate gives examples such as climbing a 6-foot scissor ladder or carrying 20 pounds.
Last but foremost, they had to pay $250,000 for training and mission support.
After completing the online application, an OceanGate representative would contact you to answer questions and provide another request. From there, they participated in a Skype/Zoom interview. Once selected, they paid and started training.
The training covered a variety of roles, such as submersible navigation and piloting, tracking and communications, and submersible maintenance and operations, according to Oceangate. The selected participants performed a dive and helped on the surface when other teams dive.
The submersibles operate from a mother vessel, called Horizon Arctic, at the beginning of the mission.
Described as a "work ship," the Horizon Arctic has a dining deck, comfortable lounges and even an exercise center.
While in the submersible, the crew spends "three to five hours" exploring the wreckage of the Titanic, the company said.
report: María Laura Avignolo. Paris, correspondent
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