US Coast Guard reveals design flaws behind Titan submersible implosion that killed five during Titanic dive. Image: PA/Sky News.
(The Post News)– A US Coast Guard investigation has revealed critical design flaws and oversight failures in the Titan submersible, which imploded during a 2023 dive to the Titanic wreck, claiming five lives. The tragedy, which stunned the exploration community, has prompted calls for stricter regulation and improved safety standards in deep-sea tourism.
On Tuesday, an investigative panel from the US Coast Guard determined that the Titan submersible’s design flaws played a central role in the 2023 implosion that tragically killed five people.
The Titan was conducting a tourist dive to the Titanic wreck, a British ship that sank in 1912, claiming more than 1,500 lives, when it lost communication with its support ship during the descent. After four days, the submersible’s wreckage was found scattered on the seabed roughly 488 meters horizontally away from the Titanic’s bow, which lies at a depth of approximately 3,800 meters.
Jason Neubauer, chair of the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, stated that the implosion could have been avoided. A 300-page report was published following a two-year investigation. Neubauer emphasized the need for stronger oversight and clearer regulatory options for operators exploring new concepts outside the existing regulatory framework. The board found that OceanGate’s shortcomings in design, certification, maintenance, and inspection of the Titan were the main contributing factors.
The report also pointed to a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate, characterized by intimidation tactics and suppression of whistleblowers. Additionally, it highlighted gaps in the regulatory framework for submersibles and new vessel types and a flawed whistleblower system.
TimesLIVE reported that the investigation highlighted that “for several years before the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company’s favorable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny.”
The board also noted that real-time monitoring data from the Titan during the 2022 expedition should have been evaluated and responded to.
It also noted that real-time monitoring data from the Titan should have been evaluated and responded to during that expedition. Additionally, the board faulted OceanGate for improper storage of the Titan prior to the 2023 Titanic expedition.
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