OFF THE SHELF SUB

Explorers' lives depend on £42 video controller, some old pipes & camping lights

- CHRIS BUCKTIN

THE lives of the missing Titanic sub explorers depend on "seemingly improvised off-the-shelf parts", it was claimed.

Rescuers are racing against time to find the vessel which vanished with five men, including three Brits, on board.

US Coastguard officials said last night they had less than 40 hours of oxygen left.

It came as it was revealed the Titan vessel is steered by a £42 video game controller available on Amazon.

Its interior lighting was bought from a camping shop and it uses construction pipes as ballast.

The sub is not approved by any regulatory body.

David Pogue, a TV journalist, took part in an expedition on it last year. He said: "I couldn't help noticing how many pieces of this sub seemed improvised, with off-the-shelf components.