A rescue operation has begun for a submarine exploring the Titanic

(CNN) — The U.S. Coast Guard started a search and rescue operation Monday for a submarine that went lacking throughout its voyage towards the stays of the Titanic. CTV NewsA CNN affiliate.

Oceangate Expeditions, the group behind the journey, mentioned it was “exploring and mobilizing all choices to convey the crew safely.”

“Our total focus is on the crew of the submarines and their households. We’re very grateful for the in depth help we now have obtained from varied authorities companies and deep sea companies in our efforts to re-establish contact with the submarine,” the crew mentioned. “We’re working to make sure the protected return of crew members.”

The submersible can seat 5 folks, the corporate mentioned on its web site. It’s unclear how many individuals had been on board.

CNN contacted the Boston Coast Guard and officers in Newfoundland, Canada.

He Titanic It struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank within the North Atlantic in April 1912, killing greater than 1,500 folks. Found in 1985, the wreck of the Titanic lies in two elements on the ocean flooring, almost 13,000 ft beneath southeast Newfoundland.

In latest instances, vacationers are supplied costly non-public excursions that permit them to see the wreck up shut.

An archived model of the OceanGate web site is on the market The Web Archive’s Wayback MachineExplains what vacationers can count on on a $250,000 journey.

“Observe within the footsteps of Jacques Cousteau and turn into an underwater explorer aboard the RMS Titanic. That is your likelihood to step out of the odd and uncover one thing actually extraordinary,” the web site says. “Be one of many few to see the Titanic with your personal eyes.”

The eight-day voyage departs from St. John’s, Newfoundland and begins with a 400-nautical-mile voyage to the wreck web site.

There, as much as 5 folks, together with a pilot, a “content material specialist” and three paying passengers, board a submarine referred to as a “Titan” and descend to the underside of the ocean.

“As quickly because the submarine leaves, as you go deeper into the ocean, you begin seeing aliens whining previous your viewfinder. It takes two hours to get off, nevertheless it looks as if a blink of a watch,” it explains. Web site.

In line with OceanGate, Titan is a 23,000 kilos submersible Made from carbon fiber and titanium. As a security measure, the corporate says the sub makes use of a “proprietary real-time hull well being monitoring (RTM) system” that analyzes the stress and structural integrity of the vessel. Life assist is on the market for a crew of 5 for 96 hours, the web site mentioned.

— CNN’s Tanika Grey contributed to this report.