Missing Titanic Submarine

NanaDana

I do wish that we saw less of these rather pointless "this money could have been spent on something so much worthier" comments. You could apply that to virtually any situation, including : "This 100 quid I'm about to spend on groceries in Sainsbury's would be far better spent if I donated it to the R.N.L.I." Probably true, but the two cases have no interdependence. We all make personal choices as to what we spend our money on, so why should anyone else sit in judgement on that, regardless of the scale of expenditure?

It's like someone saying to their child or grandchild "I've bought you a cow and a goat for Christmas for a family in Africa" when, in fact, that parent or grandparent is perfectly able to buy the cow, the goat for a poor family and a present for their child or grandchild.

Jaxjacky

I can sensé thé Hollywood directors and screen writers ghoulishly rubbing their hands together.

Only if we get a happy ending, I hope you mean, Jaxjacky.

Our world would be much poorer without adventurers, imho. Even more so without the people who devote their lives, paid or unpaid, to rescuing and helping others. I’d apply this as much to our everyday emergency services as to those searching for the Titan. We all owe a lot to the people who run towards disasters instead of running away.

It does sound as though there were many safety concerns around these trips. Even though it’d take a near miracle for the people aboard to be located and rescued in time, for now there’s still hope.

My stomach does strange things when I think of those people trapped in that metal tube. I'm highly claustrophobic and I think if it were me (no reason why it should be) I would have to ask fellow passengers to kill me as I'd be hyperventilating so much I'd drain all the oxygen.
Why anyone would put themselves in that situation for that obscene about of money is beyond me. More money than sense!
They were bolted into the receptacle with no way of opening it themselves, that alone is madness.
I fear no positive outcome sadly

There’s no point in being able to open it from the inside when you’re so far beneath the surface. In fact I’d guess it’s safer not to be able to - someone panicking would be able to kill the rest, like opening a plane door.

NanaDana

I do wish that we saw less of these rather pointless "this money could have been spent on something so much worthier" comments. You could apply that to virtually any situation, including : "This 100 quid I'm about to spend on groceries in Sainsbury's would be far better spent if I donated it to the R.N.L.I." Probably true, but the two cases have no interdependence. We all make personal choices as to what we spend our money on, so why should anyone else sit in judgement on that, regardless of the scale of expenditure?

Indeed.

GBNEWS are breaking that the tapping has been recognised as an SOS in morse code. How distressing.

Thank you Monica. I understand your point.
We are all equally valuable as human beings, and all vulnerable.
However the scale of response to these two different tragedies has been very different - both media response and practical response, in terms of the rescue efforts. If those who knew about the Med boat's dangerous situation before it capsized had been as pro-active as those searching for the sub, then disaster might have been prevented.

Hi there. I know they give masses to charity the ppl onboard. I know this definitely. Hope they find them

Germanshepherdsmum

There’s no point in being able to open it from the inside when you’re so far beneath the surface. In fact I’d guess it’s safer not to be able to - someone panicking would be able to kill the rest, like opening a plane door.

I'd like the option though. Not that I'd be in there in the first place

NanaDana

I do wish that we saw less of these rather pointless "this money could have been spent on something so much worthier" comments. You could apply that to virtually any situation, including : "This 100 quid I'm about to spend on groceries in Sainsbury's would be far better spent if I donated it to the R.N.L.I." Probably true, but the two cases have no interdependence. We all make personal choices as to what we spend our money on, so why should anyone else sit in judgement on that, regardless of the scale of expenditure?

I do wish that we saw less of these rather pointless "this money could have been spent on something so much worthier" comments.

It is a pointless argument. Apart from the fact that it's possible all or any of the wealthy passengers on board spend or donate money to charitable or worthwhile causes, the money required to fund public services, hospitals, etc, is not - or should not be - dependent on the whim of the wealthy.

As a society we either agree to set up a system of public-funded services where everyone contributes - and if the wealthy are paying their fair share of taxes, they are contributing more than most - or we don't and have an every-man-for-himself society... in which case one could possibly level criticism at those who indulge themselves whilst the impoverished are going without. But that's not the kind of society we have, we have opted for the former. Therefore the individuals in the submersible are no different from 'John down the road' who spends his income and his time sky-diving in Perranporth or Swansea.

If we want more hospitals and other public services, we do it via government - by choosing one that is committed to the ideology of State-funded services. Then both 'John' and the poor devils in the submersible will be contributing to a more equitable society, and we can stop lambasting them for spending their money on activities we don't consider 'worthwhile'.

My criticism is for those that were responsible for the design and commissioning of a piece of marine technology that - if reports are to be believed - appears to be very "Heath-Robinson"... a"Heath Robinson contraption" is perhaps most commonly used in relation to temporary fixes using ingenuity and whatever is to hand, often string and tape, or unlikely cannibalisations. (wikipedia).

... and my criticism is for the following reasons...

OceanGate, the company behind the submersible that went missing while visiting the wreckage of the Titanic, was once the subject of a massive lawsuit from an employee who alleged he was fired because he had raised safety concerns over how deep the vessel could descend.

The former OceanGate employee, David Lochridge, refused to greenlight manned tests of the submersible over safety concerns. The Washington-based company later sued Lochridge for disclosing confidential information.

www.foxbusiness.com/technology/oceangate-company-behind-missing-titanic-tourist-sub-once-subject-lawsuit-safety-complaints

I cannot imagine a worse situation that this - and why people would voluntarily take part. Hope seems to be fading, like the oxygen in the vessel, and how the people are faring inside doesn't bear thinking about. Why is it felt necessary to visit the Titanic? There are plenty of documentaries; the liner has been found, photographed, and plundered - and it is a grave for so many . I do feel they should be left in peace.

I think this is an element of the risk-taking that seems common in people who make immense fortunes; always seeking a dangerous challenge.

All I hear is that they have only 40 hours of oxygen left; that was last night and they are still quoting the same amount this morning. Doesn't bear thinking about.

I think it is morally wrong to be disturbing the Titanic resting place.
No I would not go in any submarine.

Selfish billionaires who are putting their rescuers lives in danger, and exploitative. People died on that vessel. I have NO sympathy with them, and if they are found alive they should reward the rescuers.

I saw footage on the news of one of the people onboard using a control system that just looked like the sort of thing you use to play on a computer game with. It looked so amateurish. I keep trying not to think of it, but when I do I start to panic. Surely there was a danger that the submersible could have got trapped in the wreckage even if everything had gone smoothly?

songstress60

Selfish billionaires who are putting their rescuers lives in danger, and exploitative. People died on that vessel. I have NO sympathy with them, and if they are found alive they should reward the rescuers.

'Rescue' is a job - whether it be in this current situation or any other environment. Rescuers expect to be called out - to rescue.

This is no different in principle to the 'selfish' middle-class who go on skiing holidays and end up in a situation where they need to be rescued... nor mountain climbers, sky divers, para gliders - you name it.

People, rich and not-so-rich, will always take risks, and the rescue services will always be on hand to rescue them - because it is a job they want and choose to do.

Small bit of good news on this - an SOS signal has been detected, tapped out every 30 minutes. I really hope this will allow them to find the submersible before the air runs out. Two of those on board are experienced explorers and hopefully they are managing to keep everyone calm so the air lasts as long as possible. What I do not understand is why Magellan have not been allowed to get involved - they have a remote craft that can go far deeper than the Titanic wreck, which also happens to have a winch.

Germanshepherdsmum

There’s no point in being able to open it from the inside when you’re so far beneath the surface. In fact I’d guess it’s safer not to be able to - someone panicking would be able to kill the rest, like opening a plane door.

Correct - if they are on or near the bottom then the pressure would kill them all immediately. In any event, the craft is bolted from the outside so I do not think they could open it from the inside, even if they happen to be on or near the surface - which would be the best case scenario for a rescue.

Dickens

songstress60

Selfish billionaires who are putting their rescuers lives in danger, and exploitative. People died on that vessel. I have NO sympathy with them, and if they are found alive they should reward the rescuers.

'Rescue' is a job - whether it be in this current situation or any other environment. Rescuers expect to be called out - to rescue.

This is no different in principle to the 'selfish' middle-class who go on skiing holidays and end up in a situation where they need to be rescued... nor mountain climbers, sky divers, para gliders - you name it.

People, rich and not-so-rich, will always take risks, and the rescue services will always be on hand to rescue them - because it is a job they want and choose to do.

Agreed.

We've normal low income, we ski and have only recently stopped trips for extreme/wilderness skiing. We've never needed rescue assistance and are equally grateful rescue assistance exists.

I pray they are found in time and any rescuers are also safe.

I don't think anyone has confirmed that the noises which have been detected are in fact an SOS signal. The latest reports I've read don't say anything like that.Even if that were the case, it seems highly unlikely that they could locate the vessel and raise it before those inside run out of air.

"Saetana" I tried to find information about Magellan but all I could find (apart from historic) was the cruise ship Magellan, which has been scrapped and the Magellan Explorer. The latter was built for Antarctica sea cruises. Where can I find more information please?

I find it incredible that the submersible did not have a mother ship to which it was attached by a cable. I guess it was the cost.

I hope these people are rescued but I do question the amount of publicity given to this case of 5 missing people compared with that given to the boat that sunk off the coast of Greece last week with hundreds of people on board.
Is it because they are wealthy, white, men, so called adventurers, rather than poor foreign would -be immigrants?

Two of the five aren’t white, Magsymoo.

Dinahmo

"Saetana" I tried to find information about Magellan but all I could find (apart from historic) was the cruise ship Magellan, which has been scrapped and the Magellan Explorer. The latter was built for Antarctica sea cruises. Where can I find more information please?

I find it incredible that the submersible did not have a mother ship to which it was attached by a cable. I guess it was the cost.

Some information here, Dinahmo.

www.insider.com/titanic-submersible-us-blocked-use-british-magellan-rescue-vessel-report-2023-6?amp

Magsymoo The terrible disaster in the mediterreanean dominated the news just as much as this event at the time it happened. When this terrifying event ends, no matter, which way, you will find that it will slip from the headlines, just as quickly as the previous one, especially if another disaster happens to replace it.

This event has already become the second, and sometimes third lead on the news media. Out batted by the inflation figures and potential mortgage interest rise.

Maggymaybe has corrected you on other issues.