22 Jun 2023

Frantic search for Titanic submersible continues

From Nine To Noon, 9:40 am on 22 June 2023
This undated image courtesy of OceanGate Expeditions, shows their Titan submersible beginning a descent. Rescue teams expanded their search underwater on June 20, 2023, as they raced against time to find a Titan deep-diving tourist submersible that went missing near the wreck of the Titanic with five people on board and limited oxygen. All communication was lost with the 21-foot (6.5-meter) Titan craft during a descent June 18 to the Titanic, which sits at a depth of crushing pressure more than two miles (nearly four kilometers) below the surface of the North Atlantic. (Photo by Handout / OceanGate Expeditions / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / OceanGate Expeditions" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Photo: AFP / OceanGate Expeditions

More "banging" noises have been heard from the ocean in the search for a missing submersible that had been visiting the wreck of the Titanic, but authorities still don't know what the sounds are.

Rescuers are now focusing their search on a remote area of the Atlantic Ocean where the undersea noises were detected. 

Search and rescue teams are in a race against time to find the vessel with five people on board - it's estimated their oxygen will run out by tonight.

A massive operation led by the US Coastguard is underway, but they are describing it as "extremely complicated".

Kathryn speaks to Stefan Williams, a professor of Marine Robotics at the University of Sydney.