The US Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) has released a report regarding the catastrophic June 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible, determining that the tragedy, which claimed the lives of five individuals, was “preventable”. The investigation largely placed the blame on OceanGate, the company responsible for operating the Titan.
According to the MBI, the primary issues leading to the disaster were OceanGate’s failure to adequately design, certify, maintain, and inspect the Titan. A statement from the Coast Guard highlighted these deficiencies as critical contributing factors to the implosion.
The Titan’s ill-fated journey, which attracted global attention, ended when the vessel disappeared during a dive to the wreckage of the Titanic. An extensive search in the North Atlantic ultimately revealed the wreckage on the ocean floor. The five victims—Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s founder and CEO; businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman; adventurer Hamish Harding; and French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet—were identified through DNA testing.
The aftermath of the submersible’s disaster has led to legal actions and increased scrutiny over private deep-sea expedition regulations. Jason Neubauer from the MBI emphasised the importance of these findings in preventing similar accidents in the future, advocating for enhanced oversight and regulatory clarity for operators engaged in innovative underwater exploration.
The MBI’s investigation discovered that not only were OceanGate’s safety processes lacking, but it also revealed the existence of a “toxic workplace culture”. Additional insights from former employees corroborated claims that the mission was hampered by insufficient domestic and international regulatory frameworks governing submersible operations.
In summary, the report has brought to light serious shortcomings in OceanGate’s operations and safety protocols, urging for stricter regulations within the nascent deep-sea exploration industry to avert future tragedies.