By Ben Kerrigan-
A British submariner, as well as equipment from a UK company, has been sent to assist in the search for Titan.
A Number 10 spokesman said Lieutenant Commander Richard Kantharia has been “embedded… to assist the search and rescue effort”.
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The move came at the request of the US Coast Guard, they said.
The spokesman added that Lt Cmdr Kantharia “has significant knowledge of submarine warfare and dived operations and so he will obviously be bringing that experience to the search and rescue team”.
The officer was on exchange with the US Navy and has been seconded.
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A British C-17 aircraft will also transport “specialist commercial equipment” provided by UK-based firm Magellan to St John’s, Newfoundland.
It comes after the limitation period of oxygen known to be 96 passed just after midday, although the time has now been said to be an estimate.
Time is at best critically running out for the five on board, who must have been undergoing a serious level if panic.
Planes and underwater craft from multiple countries have been deployed to the area with rescuers searching a remote part of the Atlantic Ocean more than twice the size of the US state of Connecticut in waters as deep as 4,020m (13,200ft).
A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of reaching the sea bed and transmitting images to the surface has also been deployed by French researchers
The Victor 6000 also has two mechanical arms which can carry out extremely delicate manoeuvres such as cutting or removing debris
A second powerful ROV, Juliet, is being flown in from Jersey – it has previously spent around 200 hours exploring the Titanic wreck.
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