Two years after the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible, the United States Coast Guard has unveiled the results of its investigation. The documentary Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster delved into the investigation details, now available for viewing on CBC Gem.
The United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation has disclosed its final report regarding the company accountable for the operation of the Titan submersible, which collapsed two years ago while attempting to reach the Titanic wreckage, resulting in the loss of all five occupants.
The report, made public on Tuesday, highlighted that OceanGate failed to adhere to safety engineering protocols, testing procedures, and vessel maintenance standards. The comprehensive 335-page document also emphasized issues within the company’s operations, organizational culture, and the necessity for enhanced regulatory supervision concerning “manned submersibles and vessels of innovative design.”
The report revealed that OceanGate had been utilizing intimidation strategies, exploiting allowances for scientific operations, and the company’s positive reputation to avoid regulatory scrutiny in the years leading up to the incident.
Following the implosion of the Titan submersible in June 2023, an international search and rescue mission was initiated after the vessel lost contact with its support ship, the Polar Prince. It was later determined that the vessel’s hull had compromised integrity, resulting in the tragic deaths of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Titanic researcher Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
The chair of the Titan MBI, Jason Neubauer, stated that the fatalities were preventable, attributing the incident to various contributing factors identified during the two-year investigation. The report stressed the critical flaws in OceanGate’s safety culture and operational practices, including the company’s negligence in addressing engineering issues and the lack of understanding concerning the vessel’s hull behavior in hazardous conditions.
The U.S. Coast Guard noted a missed opportunity for government intervention before the tragedy occurred, citing a whistle-blower report in 2018 and inadequate communication between regulatory bodies. The report made 17 recommendations, including the establishment of an industry working group to enhance safety standards for submersibles and the implementation of expanded federal requirements for regulatory oversight of oceanographic research submersibles.
Additionally, the report proposed mandatory communication protocols for all submarines and submersibles engaging in commercial or scientific activities, along with the requirement for submersible owners to provide detailed dive and emergency response plans to local U.S. Coast Guard authorities.
The U.S. Coast Guard emphasizes the need for strengthened oversight and clearer guidelines for operators exploring new concepts outside existing regulatory frameworks to prevent such tragedies in the future.