“..but lost contact with its research ship the Polar Prince about 1 hour and 45 minutes into its journey...”
That’s when it imploded. Passengers at one with the sea. Here’s a plan: attach the bloody thing to fail safe cable, air and communication lines.
how much space and weight does a 14000 foot steel cable take up and weigh?................
I do not believe you can deliver oxygen or any gas mixture through a hose to 12,000’ depth.
Some better informed FReeper please correct me if that’s wrong.
Radio comms simply will not penetrate more than a hundred meters (probably less) at best for civilian comms. They knew they'd lose comms for a period of time. It's when they exceeded that period of time that the support crew figured something was wrong. A beacon wouldn't do squat for them at 12,500' down except waste electricity.