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UNC-Wilmington Professor part of the team that launched missing submersible, is safe but unreachable

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published June 21, 2023 at 9:55 AM EDT
While a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 Hercules crew searches for a tourist submarine that vanished near the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, UNC-Wilmington Research Professor Dr. Steve Ross is part of the team that launched the sub
Photos: OceanGate Foundation
While a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 Hercules crew searches for a tourist submarine that vanished near the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, UNC-Wilmington Research Professor Dr. Steve Ross is part of the team that launched the sub

While a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 Hercules crew searches for a tourist submarine that vanished near the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, a research professor from UNC-Wilmington is part of the team that launched the sub.

Dr. Steve Ross is the chief scientist for OceanGate, the foundation that created the missing Titan submersible, and officials said he is on the support vessel for the tourist dive to Titanic.

Listen: Rescue teams continue search for missing passengers in submersible

A spokesperson for UNC Wilmington said he is currently “safe, but unreachable.”

The search continues for the submersible and the five people aboard the vessel. It’s estimated that they have only enough oxygen to last until Thursday morning.

More about the missing Titan: Experts raised concerns about potential problems with submersibles and their tours
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston