“Debris field” found in Titanic missing sub search, U.S. says

A deep-sea robot found a “debris field” while searching for the sub that went missing while carrying five people to the wreckage of the Titanic, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday. Experts were evaluating the discovery by the ROV, or remotely operated vehicle.

“A debris field was discovered within the search area by an ROV near the Titanic,” officials said.

The Coast Guard said Thursday morning that a robot from a Canadian vessel had reached the sea floor near the Titanic to look for the sub. Officials were expected to discuss the findings during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Another robot from a French vessel was also launched into the water Thursday amid a massive international search effort for the lost 21-foot sub Titan.

In addition to the underwater robots, search planes and ships have been deployed to the northern Atlantic Ocean in the hopes of finding the sub approximately 900 nautical miles from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Coast Guard said Wednesday the search area was about twice the size of Connecticut. 

The sub launched into the Atlantic from a Canadian research vessel Sunday morning, and the ship lost contact with the Titan an hour and 45 minutes into the dive.

Officials previously said the sub had a limited amount of oxygen on board that could have lasted 96 hours, or roughly until Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, Coast Guard Capt. Jamie Frederick said the amount of remaining oxygen was “a dialogue that’s happening” but not the only detail being considered in continuing the search.

The co-founder of the company that owns the sub, OceanGate, said Thursday was “a critical day” in the search. In a statement on Facebook, Guillermo Sohnlein said the group may have extended their life support supplies by “relaxing as much as possible.”

“I firmly believe that the time window available for their rescue is longer than what most people think,” Sohnlein said.

How to watch missing Titanic sub search briefing

• What: U.S. Coast Guard officials are holding a briefing on the search for a sub that went missing while carrying five people to the wreckage of the Titanic
• Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023
• Time: 3 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: Coast Guard Base Boston
• Online stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.

Note: Streaming plans are subject to change.