At the time, the Navy's search operation was authorized to continue until August 23, then extended to August 25, after 16 ships were added to the search fleet, including . Ships were ordered to "Seek Till All Hope Gone" on the night of August 24. The estimated cost of the extra fuel used in the search was US$90,000, later revised to $135,000, with 8,000 sailors involved. A final accounting tallied the total cost at , of which was for fuel; the search covered an area of and involved 54 ships, which steamed a combined total of , and airplanes from "Langley" flew of search routes.