An unmanned robotic vehicle deployed from a Canadian ship discovered the wreckage of the Titan submersible on the morning of June 22, on the seabed, about 1,600 feet (488 meters) off the bow of the Titanic, 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) below the surface of the North Atlantic, US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger told reporters in Boston.

The Titan, operated by US-based OceanGate Expeditions, went missing shortly after losing contact with a surface support vessel on the morning of June 18. Photo: Reuters

“We immediately notified the families of the victims aboard the Titan. On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard and the entire Joint Command, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” Mauger said.

Coast Guard officials also said five major pieces of the Titan have been found, including the stern of the ship and two sections of the hull. “The debris here is consistent with a catastrophic explosion,” Mauger said.

Even before the press conference, OceanGate issued a statement saying there were no survivors among the five men aboard the Titan, including the company's founder and CEO, Stockton Rush, who was piloting the Titan.

The other four are British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani-born business magnate Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman, both British citizens; and French oceanographer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who has visited the wreck dozens of times.

“They are all true explorers who share a passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans,” the company said. “Our hearts go out to these five souls and every member of their family.”

US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger speaks to the press in Boston. Photo: Reuters.

Mauger also said it was too early to say when the ship went down. During the search, sonar buoys were deployed underwater for more than three days and no loud explosions were detected during that time. In particular, on June 20 and 21, the buoys picked up some sounds, raising hopes that the Titan's crew was still alive and trying to communicate by banging on the ship's hull. However, officials said the noise may not have come from the Titan.

Robots on the ocean floor will continue to collect evidence, but it is not yet certain whether the bodies will be recovered, given the nature of the accident and the harsh conditions at that depth.

On June 22, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly expressed his deep condolences and announced that he would support the families of the victims on the Titan ship.

Since the Titanic wreck was discovered in 1985, many tourists and professional divers have spent a lot of money to visit the wreck. Accordingly, a tourist has to pay about 250,000 USD to Ocean Gate to see the Titanic wreck with his own eyes.

The Titan, operated by US-based OceanGate Expeditions, went missing shortly after losing contact with a surface support vessel on the morning of June 18, about 1 hour and 45 minutes after descending to a depth of 2 hours.

MINH ANH ( synthesis)