On Monday, Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard told reporters that crews were “doing everything we can” to find the submersible. Today, the Titanic remains deep beneath the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean. To be more exact, it is resting at a depth of roughly 12,500 feet or 3,800 meters below the surface. Given that the average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is approximately 12,100 feet, the Titanic sits at a particularly deep location. These specialized vehicles are designed to withstand immense water pressure while eliminating the dangers of sending people down to the bottom of the ocean. They can capture images and video footage and retrieve and manipulate artifacts with remote-controlled arms.

Modern submersibles are also equipped with more advanced side-scanning sonar systems that can be used to create detailed 3D images of the Titanic and the seabed surrounding it.With that said, sediment and marine life are building up on the surface of the Titanic, which will continue to give the appearance that the Titanic is continuing to sink to further depths. How long does it take to reach the depth of the Titanic in a research submarine? Metal components of the Titanic, such as its enormous hull, have undergone extensive corrosion. Constant exposure to saltwater and the immense water pressure has seriously deteriorated the ship’s metal structures. Organic materials, like the Titanic’s renowned wooden interiors, have decayed over the years. Everything about the Titanic and its doomed voyage is fascinating. Part of what makes it such an alluring story is that its final depth of 12,500 feet is challenging to visit. In many ways, its final resting place at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean means it almost feels otherworldly. Librarian Note: James MacInnis said that in the event the submersible is located deep within the ocean, any recovery will be “incredibly costly”.

This type of water pressure can instantly crush metal and destroy research submarines not specially designed to withstand these forces. Extremely Cold Water Temperatures When the Titanic was sinking, the ship broke apart, but it was during the descent that the two pieces really separated. When they eventually hit the ocean floor, it is believed that they hit at different angles, which forced them even farther apart. The bow section, where most of the Titanic’s passengers would have been, actually sits roughly 2,000 feet away from the stern area of the ship. In any accident, you really want an analysis of what went wrong. And I suspect in this case, there will be a lot of head scratching and [if lost] we’ll likely see an effort to recover it if they can.”The coast guard is relying on aircraft, some of which have underwater detection capabilities. But officials admitted they only have the capability to search for sounds at the moment. As was evidenced by the very first successful mission, unmanned submersibles, known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), continue to play an essential role. To safely operate a manned exploration submersible, the submarine needs to be designed to function in extreme cold and keep occupants warm enough to survive. Total Darkness and Visibility Limitations The outcome officials are hoping for is that the vessel somehow limped to the surface and is drifting somewhere in the North Atlantic, awaiting rescue. In deep sea expeditions, MacInnis said, crews often worry about the “trinity”: fire, hull failure or entanglement.