- Officials say that six people are dead after a tourist submarine sank off of the coast of Egypt. Currently, it’s unclear what caused the submarine to sink, but the sea craft reportedly had mechanical issues prior to the tragedy.
- The incident comes more than a year after the OceanGate Titan submersible tragedy and as deep-sea tourism is more available than ever.
- The Russian Embassy in Egypt reports all passengers on board the submarine were Russians, and some on board were children.
Full Story
Six people are dead and nine others are hurt after a tourist submarine sank off of the coast of the Egyptian Red Sea tourist destination of Hurghada on Thursday, March 27, according to officials.
First responders said they were able to rescue 29 of the people on board the sea craft.
What do we know about the incident?
The Russian Embassy in Egypt reports that all tourists on the vessel were Russian, and 45 passengers in total were aboard the submarine at the time of the incident, including children.
Investigators said it’s still unclear what caused the submarine to sink, but the Times of India reports that the vessel experienced mechanical issues prior to sinking.
What is the bigger picture?
The incident comes more than a year after the OceanGate Titan submersible imploded during a deep-sea excursion to view the Titanic wreckage at the bottom of the ocean. The implosion raised safety concerns over deep-sea exploration and a lack of regulations in the industry.
Despite the concerns, deep-sea tourism is more widely available than ever, with costly tourist experiences ranging from $1,500 all the way up to $300,000 for a night in a high-end submarine hotel.
Safety remains an issue
The adventures, however, also come with risks, as there are no clear international regulations on submersibles, and maintenance lies mostly in the hands of operators.
In OceanGate’s case, the submersible avoided rigorous inspections by independent experts to become certified or “classed,” arguing it would hurt innovation.
For this reason, some past marine copilots are pushing for mandatory third-party inspections. They also urge anyone looking to book a submarine or submersible tour to check if it is approved by a reputable classification society.
Marine experts also note that rescue operations can be tough and delicate for first responders depending on the depth of the submarine.
What do we know about the company involved?
While details on the latest submarine tragedy remain murky, Sinbad Submarines, which operates the tours, says on its website that it has two submarines that are capable of a maximum depth of a little more than 80 feet.
