A British adventurer has been named as one of five people understood to be missing near the Titanic wreckage after a tourist submersible expedition disappeared.
Hamish Harding, chairman of private plane firm Action Aviation, is thought to be aboard the five-person OceanGate Expeditions vessel after he tweeted he was “proud to finally announce” that he would be aboard the mission to the wreck of the Titanic two days ago on June 17.
The vessel was reported overdue on Sunday evening about 435 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland. The US Coast Guard is currently leading a search for the vessel which involves military aircraft.
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In a statement to BBC News, OceanGate Expeditions said they were 'exploring and mobilising all options to bring the crew back safely'.
“Our entire focus is on the crew members in the submersible and their families.”
In 2021, the company began what it expected to become an annual voyage to chronicle the deterioration of the wreckage of the famous ocean liner, which struck an iceberg and sank in 1912.
At the time, the company said that in addition to archaeologists and marine biologists, the expeditions also would include roughly 40 paying tourists who would take turns operating sonar equipment and performing other tasks in the five-person submersible.
Mr Harding has a history of supporting and participating in adventuring projects. In 2021, along with Victor Vescovo, he dove to the deepest point of the Mariana Trench in a two-man submarine, reaching the lowest point in the world's oceans at a depth of 36,000 ft.
The pair set the world record for greatest length covered at full ocean depth, and greatest time spent at full ocean depth.
On social media at the weekend, Mr Harding said he was “proud to finally announce” that he would be aboard the mission to the wreck of the Titanic – but added that due to the “worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023”.
He continued: “A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow.
“We started steaming from St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada yesterday and are planning to start dive operations around 4am tomorrow morning. Until then we have a lot of preparations and briefings to do.”
OceanGate Expeditions said its focus was on those aboard the vessel and their families.
“We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to re-establish contact with the submersible,” the company said in a statement.
“We are working toward the safe return of the crew members.”
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