Titanic Sub Latest: How Much Search Will Cost and Mom Says She Gave Son Her Seat

OceanGate, the private submersible that disappeared during a trip deep into the ocean to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, captured the eyes and the hearts of the world last week. Unfortunately, the search did not result in a happy ending, as experts now maintain that the vessel imploded shortly into its descent down to the wreckage with British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son, Suleman; French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet; and Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, the company that operates the submersible, dying immediately.

Now there are a few new questions on everyone's mind: How much has been spent on the search effort, and who is footing the bill? And most people aren't exactly happy with the answer. 

According to The Washington Post, the U.S. government has spent about $1.2 million to date on the Titan search. This estimate was put together by a defense budget expert, Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 

"The complete costs, and who ultimately pays them, are unknown and depend on several factors," explains the publication. For example, "the search employed private companies and research vessels carrying remote-operated vehicles, including the one that ultimately found the Titan."

At this time, it isn't known who will foot the bill, but Cancian maintains there's a good chance the Defense Department put them under contract.

"Five people have just lost their lives and to start talking about insurance, all the rescue efforts and the cost can seem pretty heartless — but the thing is, at the end of the day, there are costs," Arun Upneja, dean of Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration and a researcher on tourism, said to NPR.

"There are many people who are going to say, 'Why should the society spend money on the rescue effort if (these people) are wealthy enough to be able to … engage in these risky activities?'"

And, it is unlikely that OceanGate will pick up the tab, according to Ret. Adm. Paul Zukunft, who commanded the Coast Guard from 2014 to 2018. "It's no different than if a private citizen goes out and his boat sinks," he told The Washington Post. "We go out and recover him. We don't stick them with the bill after the fact."

On Friday, the US Coast Guard declined to offer a number. "We cannot attribute a monetary value to Search and Rescue cases, as the Coast Guard does not associate cost with saving a life," the agency said. NPR estimates it to "run into the millions."

As expected, people are outraged that the government will likely be footing the bill. "So passengers made an informed choice to risk death on the Ocean Gate, which circumvented national safety standards by launching in international waters, but taxpayers in multiple countries are paying for the search and rescue through the use of multiple military units?" tweeted Aura Bogado. 

RELATED: 8 Harrowing Facts Shared by Titanic Sub's Previous Passengers

"OceanGate needs to reimburse the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and Canadian Coast Guard involved in searching the ocean using taxpayer money. This tragedy could have been prevented with proper safety protocols. Even Boeing said they exaggerated details of the Titan's safety!" added Robert Bernardo. 

Christine Dawood, mother of victim Suleman Dawood, had planned to go on the trip before the pandemic interrupted it. "Then I stepped back and gave them space to set [Suleman] up, because he really wanted to go," she told the BBC. "I was really happy for them because both of them, they really wanted to do that for a very long time." "He said, 'I'm going to solve the Rubik's Cube 3,700 metres below sea at the Titanic.' " added Christine.