Submarine which takes tourists to see Titanic wreckage off Canadian coast 'goes missing'

A submarine which carries tourists 12,000ft deep in the Atlantic Ocean to see the wreckage of the Titanic has reportedly gone missing.

A search and rescue mission was under way on Monday morning for the vessel, which went missing off the coast of south east Canada, according to US publication CBS News.

Lieutenant Jordan Hart, of the Boston Coast Guard, reportedly said personnel were “currently undergoing a search and rescue operation” when asked about the rescue efforts off the coast of Newfoundland.

It is currently unknown how many people, if any, are on board the missing vessel.

OceanGate Expeditions confirmed the search for its five-person submersible and said its focus is on those aboard the vessel and their families.

“We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to re-establish contact with the submersible,” the company said in a statement.

“We are working toward the safe return of the crew members.”

David Concannon, an adviser to the company, said Oceangate lost contact with the sub on Sunday morning. It had a 96-hour oxygen supply, he said in an email to the Associated Press on Monday afternoon.

Small submarine vessels in the region often take tourists and experts to view the wreckage, around 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.

Multi-day trips to the wreck cost tens of thousands of dollars and one dive to Titanic reportedly takes around eight hours.

One firm which offers the service, Oceangate Expeditions, charges $230,000 US (£195,381) for a seven-day trip according to its website.

The Titanic, which was the largest ship of its time, hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912, killing around 1,500 passengers.