Juliet: UK deep-sea robot sent to find Titan sub as search reaches critical stage

Watch: Undersea robot Juliet is loaded onto a US aircraft from Jersey Airport

A remotely controlled deep-sea vehicle has been loaded onto a US military plane from Jersey Airport as the search for the missing Titan submersible is intensified.

The sub went missing after losing contact with operators on the surface on Sunday during a voyage to see the wreckage of the Titanic.

US, Canadian and French crews have been deployed to a large search area of the Atlantic compared to the size of Wales.

Now specialised tools from Guernsey-based underwater research company, Magellan, are being deployed, including remotely operated vehicle (ROV), named Juliet, which has previously been used to scan and produce 3D images of the Titanic's remains.

The robot is capable of reaching depths of up to 6,000 meters - which is far deeper than the Titanic's resting place of 3,800 metres below sea level.

Read more: Titanic sub missing - LIVE: Oxygen timeline is 'artificial', says expert

The sub was pictured being loaded onto a C17 plane early this morning, but it was reported that it would take 48 hours for it to reach the search site - around 900 miles east and 400 miles south of Newfoundland.

It had reportedly been ready to be deployed earlier in the week but has been held up due to delays in authorities giving the go-ahead.

With rescuers previously predicting that Titan's emergency oxygen supplies would run out by Thursday afternoon, pressure to step up the operation has been mounting, prompting more equipment to be sent over.

In addition to the robot, Magellan also supplied a lifting device with a 7,000m synthetic rope designed for deep sea operations, ITV reports.

Read more: Missing Titanic sub: Will there be a press conference today?

Juliet is one of a handful of ROVs deployed for the mission to find Titan, which was carrying five people including a British billionaire adventurer.

One of the vessels sent to help search efforts is French research vessel L’Atalante which carries the ROV known as Victor 6000, which can also dive up to 6,000 metres underwater - deeper than any equipment previously at the site.

Read more: Titanic missing sub: Tycoon pulled out of Titan voyage over 'shoddy' design

Among the five people on board Titan is British adventurer and business jet salesman Hamish Harding. He is also a keen skydiver and a trustee of the Explorers Club.

His friend, digital marketing tycoon, Chris Brown, has told how he nearly went on the voyage but decided to pull out due to concerns over what he called "shoddy" design and testing procedures.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Explorers Club president Richard Garriott wrote: "Thanks for all your support and hard work on the rescue operations for our friends aboard Titan.

Read more: Victor 6000: The robot that is only hope to rescue missing sub from sea floor

"I believe we have importantly improved the odds of a positive outcome though our advice, volunteering of services and equipment, and even the political pressure we continue to bring to bear.

"All has been needed. All continues to be needed. Magellan is en route (should have been accepted sooner), we are still trying to get side scan sonar (should have been accepted sooner), and still working on ships to transport equipment and other details.

"We continue to come together for our friends, their families and the ideals of The Explorers Club, and the cause of safe scientific exploration of extreme environments.

Read more: YouTuber describes 'incredibly risky' 2022 trip on Titan where 'batteries drained'

"There is good cause for hope, and we are making it more hopeful. I thank you! Keep searching!"

Despite concerns that the Titan may have already run out of oxygen, the timeline has been described as "artificial" by experts.

On Thursday the chief coordinator of a multinational mission to find the sub insisted that rescuers were still focussed on rescuing the five-member crew alive.