French explorer PH Nargeolet was scheduled to be on the submersible, social media post says
Depending where and at what depth the submersible is found, there could be limited options for rescue vessels — even the US Navy's advanced fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
The Navy's multibillion-dollar nuclear-powered subs can stay under water as long as the provisions for the crew hold out and usually operate at 800 feet or less.
The maximum depth for subs is classified, but reputable experts say the deepest a US Navy sub can go is 1,500 to 2,000 feet, depending upon the class of submarine.
Below those depths, the water pressure on the hull of the submarine would cause it to implode, meaning they can’t dive down to the ocean floor, where the wreckage of the Titanic is located.
The Navy does have specialized rescue submersibles, but even those can only make rescues at depths up to 2,000 feet, according to the Navy’s Underwater Rescue Command.
Deepest rescue: The deepest ever underwater rescue was that of Roger Chapman and Roger Mallinson, who were rescued from a submersible at depths of 1,575 feet in 1973. They were trapped for 76 hours before finally being hauled to the surface.
During that rescue, authorities used other submersibles and a remotely operated, Navy-developed recovery vessel to attach lines to their vessel, the Pisces III, which were then used to pull it back to the surface.
It’s not clear whether these methods could work for the Titan, given the uncertainty around its location.
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