In an investigative report released on 5/8/2023, the US Coast Guard's Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) concluded that the implosion of the Titan submersible while touring the Titanic wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023 "was a preventable event".
"OceanGate's failure to adhere to established engineering safety, testing, and maintenance protocols was a key factor contributing to the disaster," the Coast Guard stated. They determined that "a toxic work culture at the company, including firing or threatening to fire employees and contractors, prevented staff from raising safety concerns."
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The Titan submersible. Photo: OceanGate |
The Titan submersible. Photo: OceanGate
The Coast Guard's 335-page report identified OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was aboard the Titan at the time of the incident, as primarily responsible for the tragedy. Rush repeatedly ignored warnings about the submersible's safety risks and threatened those who voiced concerns.
"Rush created a false sense of security by misrepresenting the Titan's safety, misleading experts about testing procedures, and exaggerating the number of test dives conducted," the Coast Guard noted.
MBI leader Jason Neubauer said the two-year investigation identified multiple contributing factors, providing valuable lessons for preventing similar incidents. "Increased oversight and clearer options are needed for those testing new designs operating outside of existing regulations," he said.
In addition to OceanGate's CEO, the victims were British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman, and French oceanographer and Titanic expert Paul Henri Nargeolet.
In June 2023, the MBI reported that recovered debris confirmed the vessel had imploded. This occurs when an object is crushed inward by immense external pressure, unlike an explosion where the force is directed outwards.
Nguyen Tien (AFP, CNN, ABC News)
