By Canadian Press

Cost of search for missing submersible ‘irrelevant,’ fisheries minister says

Jun 21, 2023 | 11:24 AM

HALIFAX — As the search for a missing submersible with five people aboard continues about 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland, two federal cabinet ministers came forward today to say the focus is on saving lives, not on the cost of the rescue operation.

In Ottawa, the minister responsible for the Canadian Coast Guard, Joyce Murray, said the mounting bills for the U.S.-led mission were “irrelevant” as long as there is a chance of saving those on the Titan submersible, which was reported missing Sunday after it set off to explore the wreck of the Titanic.

Defence Minister Anita Anand said much of the same thing later when she confirmed the Royal Canadian Navy had dispatched HMCS Glace Bay, a maritime coastal defence vessel, to help with the search.

Anand said saving lives is the military’s top priority.

Aside from the small warship, Canada has also sent a CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft, which can search below the surface of the water by dropping sonar-equipped buoys that transmit signals back to the aircraft.

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As well, the Canadian Coast Guard is sending the offshore science vessel CCGS John Cabot, the heavy icebreaker CCGS Terry Fox and the multitask vessel Ann Harvey.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2023. 

The Canadian Press