Fantastic, It Turns Out This is the Cost of Riding the Titanic Submarine that Exploded and Killed 5 People

Dream - The Titanic tourist submarine owned by OceanGate Expeditions has exploded. Five passengers died, including the CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions, Stockton Rush.

"The outpouring of support in this highly complex search operation is greatly appreciated. Our deepest condolences go out to the friends and loved ones of the crew," said Rear Admiral John Mauger of the First Coast Guard District, quoted from CNBC International, Friday, June 23, 2023.

Looking back at its history, OceanGate Expeditions was founded in 2009 by Stockton Rush, with the aim of allowing researchers to explore the depths of the sea through manned submarines, using modern materials and private funding to reduce costs.

In the first two and a half years of operation, the company acquired the 'Antipodes' submarine as well as two robotic vehicles, a different support vessel, and various supporting equipment before finally acquiring their second submarine, Cyclops 1, in 2012 (which later became the Titan prototype).

Since its establishment, OceanGate Expeditions claims to have conducted 14 expeditions and over 200 dives in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico.

So, how much does it cost to ride the OceanGate submarine?

According to The Independent report, the company charges up to US$250,000 or around Rp3.7 billion to take guests to the site of the Titanic wreck.

Titan Submarine Debris Found 488 Meters from the Titanic Wreck, 5 Passengers Confirmed Dead

Dream - US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said the rescue team has found debris from the missing Titan submarine during an expedition tour to the Titanic wreck. They concluded that five passengers died.

The submarine debris, Mauger said, was found 1,600 feet or 488 meters from the Titanic wreck. "The submarine experienced a massive explosion," he said, quoted from Reuters, Friday, June 23, 2023.

The Titan submarine operated by OceanGate Expeditions began its descent at 8:00 am on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

The submarine lost contact with its surface support vessel after diving for two hours to the location of the world's most famous shipwreck.

Search efforts were made. The US Coast Guard report on Wednesday stated that a Canadian search aircraft had recorded underwater sounds using sonar buoys.

The US Coast Guard team immediately deployed remotely operated underwater vehicles around the locations where the sounds were detected, but to no avail.

Concerns increased as the searchers raced against time, realizing that the passengers, if still alive, would face dwindling oxygen supplies.

The French research vessel Atalante was also deployed. They deployed a diving robot capable of descending to the Titanic wreckage, and eventually the Titan debris was found.

The five main fragments of Titan, measuring 6.7 meters in length, were located in the field of debris remaining from its destruction, including the ship's tail cone and two pressure hull sections. It was not mentioned whether human remains were found.

"The debris here is consistent with the massive explosion of the vehicle," said Mauger.

OceanGate issued a statement that there were no survivors among the five people on board the Titan, including the founder and CEO of the company, Stockton Rush, who piloted the Titan.

The other four were British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding (58), British-born Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood (48) and his 19-year-old son Suleman, both British citizens, and French marine expert and renowned Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet (77) who had visited the shipwreck dozens of times.

"These individuals are true explorers with a different spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world's oceans," the company said.