Pieces of imploded Titanic sub are brought to shore

Debris was loaded onto trucks by crane

Metal wreckage from the OceanGate-owned Titan sub was unloaded from the Horizon Arctic ship in St John's, Canada, on Wednesday.

Photographs and footage from the scene showed metal pieces from the sub covered in tarps before cranes lifted them onto trucks.

The US Coast Guard said the vessel's landing frame and a rear cover were found among the debris.

Communications were lost with the Titan one hour and 45 minutes after it set off on June 28, sparking a race against time to find the 21-foot-long vessel that had just 96-hours of emergency oxygen and limited rations on board (although some have suggested the tragic outcome was known Monday).

The US Coast Guard later announced that debris had been found on the seabed, 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, leaving experts to determine “a catastrophic implosion of the vehicle” occured, claiming the lives of everyone on board: British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French navy veteran Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19.

Since the confirmation of what happened to the sub, it has been revealed that Rush ignored a number of safety warnings raised by others in the deep diving community, including film director James Cameron.

Rear Admiral John Mauger, who has been leading the search for the Titan, confirmed the implosion on Thursday.

He said in a statement: “This is an incredibly unforgiving environment down there on the sea floor and the debris is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel.

“I can only imagine what this has been like for them and I hope that this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time.”

In a statement, OceanGate hailed the sub’s passengers as “true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans”.

It added: “We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.”

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