OceanGate Titan submersible: The tragic end of deep-sea exploration

OceanGate Titan submersible: The tragic end of deep-sea exploration

The implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible on June 18, 2023, was a tragic event that resulted in the loss of all five people on board. The submersible was on a mission to explore the wreck of the RMS Titanic when it imploded at a depth of approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 meters). The cause of the implosion is still under investigation, but it is believed to have been caused by a sudden pressure differential that caused the hull of the submersible to collapse inwards.

On 16 June, 2023, the Titan submersible departed from St. John's, Newfoundland, aboard the research and expedition ship MV Polar Prince. The Polar Prince, the mother ship of the Titan Submersible arrived at the dive site above the wreck of the Titanic on 17 June, 2023. Finally, the Titan submersible began its descent to the Titanic wreck at approximately 12:00 PM GMT on 18 June, 2023. But, communication with the Titan submersible was lost at approximately 1:45 PM GMT. Immediately, the Polar Prince initiated a search and rescue operation. Unfortunately, the US Coast Guard announced that the Titan submersible had imploded and that all five people on board were presumed dead on 22 June, 2023.

The mother ship of the Titan submersible was the MV Polar Prince. It is a research and expedition ship that is owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions. The Polar Prince is a 197-foot, ice-strengthened vessel that is capable of supporting a variety of scientific and research missions. The ship has a well-equipped laboratory, a dive deck, and a helipad. It can accommodate up to 49 passengers and crew.

The implosion of the Titan was a major setback for the field of deep-sea exploration. It also raised serious safety concerns about the use of submersibles in deep water. In the wake of the disaster, the US Coast Guard and other maritime authorities have called for a review of safety standards for submersibles.

The Titan was a small submersible that could carry up to five passengers and two crew members. It was equipped with a variety of cameras and sensors that allowed it to explore the depths of the ocean. The Titan had been used on several expeditions to the Titanic before its implosion.

The loss of the Titan was a reminder of the dangers of deep-sea exploration. The ocean is a vast and unforgiving environment, and even the most experienced and well-equipped explorers are not immune to danger. The implosion of the Titan should serve as a wake-up call to the industry, and it is important to take steps to improve safety before more lives are lost.

A. Choose the correct alternatives from the given options. 1×5 = 5

(i) Titan submersible departed from – (a) Canada (b) New Hampshire (c) Newfoundland (d) Mexico gulf

(ii) MV Polar Prince was a – (a) submarine (b) submersible (c) ship (d) boat

(iii) The missing of the Titan submersible was first known on – (a) 16 June, 2023 (b) 17 June, 2023 (c) 18 June, 2023 (d) 22 June, 2023

(iv) The ownership of the Titan submersible goes to – (a) United Shipping Corporation (b) OceanGate (c) DSME (d) Fincantieri

(v) The length of the MV Polar Prince is – (a) 192ft (b) 195ft (c) 197ft (d) 297ft

B. Answer the following questions. (15 words) 1×3 = 3

(i) What was the name of the mother ship that carried the Titan submersible to the dive site?

(ii) How many people were boarded on the Titan submersible?

(iii) When was the deep-sea exploration mission taken with the Titan submersible onboard?

C. Answer the following questions. (30 words) 2×2 = 4

(i) Point out the actual reason, the Titan submersible took venture to dive into the deep-sea water?