Continue the race against the clock to save the occupants of the submarine lost as it was engaged in a dive to the wreck of the Titanic. The hours of oxygen available to the five passengers are less and less.

Some underwater "noises" were identified on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, pounding sounds at 30-minute intervals: the ocean is full of sounds but the report suggests that the "banging" detected is regular and therefore can be produced by a human source.

Inside the Titan there is also a former French diver, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who should know the protocol for alerting teams: making noise for three minutes every half hour. Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard, who is directing the research, reported that according to experts and equipment, the noise picked up "is potentially generated" by the occupants of the hull but that there is no confirmation of its nature. "We must remain optimistic," was the invitation of Captain Jamie Frederick, coordinator of relief.

It should be remembered that in previous submarine rescue attempts these noises were discovered to be "false", in particular in 2017 with the Argentine submarine Ara San Juan: subsequent analysis of the audio ascertained that it was a natural source. So while hopes for a miracle have risen slightly, there are still numerous uncertainties and challenges.

If the Titan could be located in the depths, recovering it would still be a huge logistical challenge. And it would be even more so if he had run aground in the remains of the Titanic. In any case, special equipment would be needed due to the enormous pressure and total darkness at a depth of 3800 meters.

The five passengers are British millionaire Hamish Harding (58), Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood (48) with his son Suleman (19), French explorer and submarine pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet (77) and Stockton Rush (61). , the patron of OceanGate, the company that owns the Titan.

(Unioneonline/ss)

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