Titanic submersible

That is a good point too. One of their 7 ways to emergency surface is an inflatable bag. But at 6,000psi sea water pressure, a big ask.

According to the Independent :

Channel 5 has changed its schedule on Thursday (22 June) evening to include a new documentary titled Titanic Sub: Lost at Sea.

The live special will, of course, focus on the missing tourist submarine, which was lost on an underwater expedition to view the Titanic shipwreck on Sunday (18 June)

The live special will air at 7pm – just hours after the Titan submersible is due to run out of oxygen – and is presented by former Football Focus host Dan Walker.

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The debate about lack of taste/respect has, understandably, already started.

MichaelG.

Wow. No doubt a football show host will bring special expertise to the subject.

Hopper said "And people never really believe they are going to die until they are looking it in the face".

Dear Hopper, I'm affraid, now in my early 70s I have come to realise that I will die and to that end I am now starting the slow wind down to my demise ! I will today scrap an alexander mill I know I will never have time to renovate and the bridgeport I have may well go the same way. I had so many BIG ideas but time is running out.

I would never dispute an Englishmans right to go down to the sea in ships, one of the few last great freedoms we still have, and I would not want to see innovation stiffled but some very searching questions should be asked about this venture - when the fuss has died down ! I still pray for a good outcome. Noel.

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I got the slightest hint, a few decades ago, when I was sealed inside our ‘altitude test chamber’

This was a comparatively large vessel 6’ diameter and 30’ long, with two doors … a full diameter one at the end, and a personal access hatch towards the rear. Both of these were clamped closed with big hand-wheels, and then the chamber pulled-down to a mere ‘10,000 feet’

All very trivial compared with the present situation !

It very quickly became obvious to me that I was utterly and completely at the mercy of things [and people] outside.

MichaelG.

I'm indebted to Bill Phinn for 'taphophilia', a condition I clearly have. Nothing cheers me up compared with standing next to a famous grave, and thinking, 'you may have captured Moscow mate, but I'm still alive.'

There's a danger upsetting news gets taken out of perspective. Much worse is going on around the world!

The H&S aspect of this particular incident doesn't worry me much, and I hope this type of endeavour doesn't get banned after an emotional knee-jerk. It seems perfectly reasonable to me for those involved to assess and choose take the risk. Their choice, and if it goes wrong, we've all got to go sooner or later. I'd rather die in an accident whilst visiting the Titanic than of dementia.

Hopper said: THIS latest report says the Magellan is now being loaded on a plane in Jersey after FINALLY getting permission. But it will take 48 hours to get to the site so too late to save any lives. Delayed by red tape. Government efficiency at its finest. I think that's wrong too: why should taxpayers be asked to pay for this? From the latest BBC report, 5 specialist ships are searching the vicinity, plus aircraft from the US and Canadian Coast Guards, and more is on the way. How much this costing, who is paying, and - even if successful - is rescuing 4 trippers who signed a heavy disclaimer worth the effort? As a government decision, why spend more on this rescue attempt than rubber boats sinking in the Channel? (Please don't use this hypothetical ethical question to start a political debate on the forum!) So I don't think the delay was due to 'red-tape', more likely someone took a difficult humanitarian decision knowing that it's a waste of time and money. Relevant that UK government borrowing this year is greater than the UK's gross domestic product.

I too hope for a good outcome, but the circumstances suggest a catastrophic failure. The submersible suddenly lost communications after which the pilot failed to resurface manually. Nor has the sub resurfaced after the ballast was supposed to drop automatically after 16 hours. Best hope are the banging noises, but the ocean is full of noise, with plenty of other explanations for it. I'm afraid that we know so far is consistent with the hull collapsing or developing a leak, resulting in a quick end.

Not nice, but we all face death as an occupational hazard of living. As Woody Allen joked, 'I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens.' My main concern is becoming a burden on my family and the state. Last thing I want is to be is a useless shell, officiously kept alive with no benefit to me or anyone else.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 22/06/2023 13:19:56

Graves where somebody's remains have been laid to rest with due process and ceremony aren't the same as chaotic sites of multiple deaths.

I haven't heard of house-priced visits for the extremely well-heeled being available to the wreck sites of Hood, Bismarck or any of the other myriad ships sunk in war.

Even the Lusitania wreck, relatively accessible though now bizarrely privately-owned, is a protected site requiring permission to visit.

I wouldn't wish the potential catastrophe of Titan on anyone, but I do think there's something ghoulish about such obsession on the fate of Titanic.

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Fact-Check time, I think:

I would infer, from this statement on ITV News, that the delay was due to import controls:

The equipment was previously stuck in Jersey due to an issue importing the rescue gear into the USA.

Sorry, haven’t got time to check it myself just now.

Yes, the taxpayer ultimately foots the bill … but which taxpayer ?

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 22/06/2023 14:44:12

Titanic sub: Safety concerns raised about missing submersible

**LINK**

So presumably you disapprove of visits to historic battlefields.

I am surprised that Elon Musk has not offered his submarine.

Apologies for the flippancy.

JA

It is strange. But there is something very visceral about being a witness to death even long after the event. Even seeing the skull of an ancient human ancestor is not like seeing an ordinary artefact. I also know people who have been deeply moved, even changed, by the experience of visiting Auschwitz.

Neil

He's arranging a cage fight with Mark Zuckerberg.

I'll keep my opinions for a more appropriate social media channel.

Neil

On a similar vein, for those who have Netflix or similar I highly recommend "Last Breath"
https://www.netflix.com/fr-en/title/80215139

Robert.

Dark tourism or Necro tourism is big business

All of those things are within the scope of most people of moderate means who may have knowledge of the lives of relatives who were affected. I didn't lose anybody at the death camps so I don't think I've any business there.

Spending ostentatiously grotesque amounts of wealth visiting somebody else's disaster isn't something I'd feel comfortable about.

Edited By Mick B1 on 22/06/2023 17:04:54

Sounds like it may all be over ? A debris field has it seems been spotted ! God rest their souls. Noel.

Ghastly news item on LBC

https://apple.news/A4B0ZzCCeQiSfZzjaKZ-KsA

MichaelG.

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Direct Link :

 https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/ive-broken-some-rules-oceangate-titanic-submarine-window-pressure/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 22/06/2023 18:21:25

Hi, just heard on 6 O'clock news that the landing frame and the rear cover have been found on the sea floor.

Regards Nick.

Pop! Goes the submarine.