Stockton Rush, the CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions, is believed to have been aboard his company’s Titan submarine that disappeared on Sunday en route to the wreck of HMS Titanic around 370 miles south of the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

The visibility conditions in the area surrounding the Titanic shipwreck in the North Atlantic Ocean seem to be improving as multiple agencies search for the missing submersible, according to the US Coast Guard.

On Tuesday, Chief Petty Officer Robert Simpson told reporters that the remote area where ships and aircrafts were conducting searches had five to six-foot waves and improving visibility.

On Monday (19 June), authorities began their search for the missing OceanGate Expeditions’ submersible in low visibility. But as the days go on, the visibility is improving making for better search conditions.

Wind speeds were up to 15 knots on Tuesday as well.

The US Coast Guard has admitted that it doesn’t know if search teams will be able to rescue the Titanic tourist sub from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean even if they do manage to find it within the 96-hour deadline – as it’s estimated that the five missing passengers have just 40 hours of oxygen supply left inside the vessel.

US Coast Guard Captain Jamie Frederick confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that there is still no sign of OceanGate Expedition’s missing Titan submersible, which has now been missing for more than two days.

Rachel Sharp reports:

During a press conference on Tuesday (20 June), Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard told reporters their priority was locating the submersible before anything else.

When Captain Frederick was asked if the five passengers aboard the submersible could be rescued, he said there is an “unwavering effort” from the team of people currently searching for the watercraft.

He did not go into detail about any rescue plans if officials locate the submersible but said there was a team of the “nation’s best experts” involved.

“Being on a submarine is not natural. It is not natural to climb inside a metal tube and descend deep into a hostile environment when you don’t have control over the events around you. You have to have trust. You have to trust the tin can, the systems that make the tin can work, the people who built the tin can and that the people who are driving the tin can know what they are doing.

The first time that you climb down inside a submarine can be daunting and a little bit frightening or exciting, depending on your disposition. The first time you dive on a submarine is extraordinary. All the trust mentioned above comes sharply into focus.”

David Bessell writes:

Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard reiterated how “complex” and “challenging” the search and rescue of the five people aboard the missing submersible is.

“Our crew are working around the clock to ensure we are doing everything possible to locate the Titan and five crew members,” Mr Frederick said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Multiple teams including the US Coast Guard, US Navy, Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Coast Guard and OceanGate Expeditions are working together on a unified team to bring as many assets as possible to find the submersible.

Due to the remote location and the uncertain position of the submersible either on the surface or underwater, locating the watercraft is much more difficult than a typical search and rescue.

In a press conference on Tuesday (20 June) afternoon, Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard said the Titan submersible had about 40 to 41 hours left of oxygen in the watercraft.

At this point, we’re approximately 40-41 hours,” Mr Frederick said.

Mr Frederick added that the hours were only an estimate based on the timeline they were working with.

French president Emmanuel Macron has ordered the dispatch of research ship Atlante to assist in searching for the missing Titanic tourist submersible, the Titan.

On Tuesday (20 June) CNN reported that France would send a ship equipped with an underwater robot that can reach depths of 4,000 meters (1,312 feet).

“The idea and our wish are for the ship to arrive as soon as possible, which should be Wednesday at 8pm. local time,” French Secretary of State in charge of Sea, Hervé Berville, told CNN affiliate BFMTV.

"This is a race of time that started last night (Monday) and France has responded to the calls from American authorities," he said.

The underwater robot’s operation team departed from Toulon.

Sonar buoys and ships, reconnaissance planes and unmanned submersible vehicles are scouring an area of the Atlantic Ocean ‘the size of Connecticut’ for any trace of the missing Titan dive ship

Bevan Hurley reports: