OceanGate’s Titan submersible was lost during a dive to the Titanic in June 2023. The chairman of the Coast Guard investigation panel for the loss of the Titan submersible stated that there is no evidence to suggest that crew members were aware of their peril during the dive. A purported transcript of communications during Titan’s final dive was found to be fake, as confirmed by a review of the actual messages between Titan and its mothership. The crew members, including OceanGate’s co-founder and CEO Stockton Rush, died instantaneously in the implosion of Titan’s hull.
The fake transcript of communications was widely distributed following the tragedy, but the original source remains unknown. OceanGate suspended all exploration and commercial operations two weeks after the loss of the Titan submersible and appointed a new CEO to oversee the company’s shutdown. The Coast Guard’s investigation into the incident is complex and may take two to three years to complete due to the nature of the evidence and jurisdictional complexities.
The investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible is ongoing, with investigators reviewing records and evidence recovered from the bottom of the sea. A final report is expected to be submitted within two to three years. A public hearing to discuss the findings has not yet been scheduled. An investigative report published by Wired delves into the technical problems OceanGate encountered during Titan’s development, which were largely hidden from public scrutiny. The report also discusses the roles Boeing and the University of Washington played in OceanGate’s early years.
The investigation is focused on determining the causes of the loss of the Titan submersible and making recommendations for future action. The crew members of the Titan submersible, including pilot Stockton Rush, were believed to have died almost instantly in the implosion of the sub’s hull. The chairman of the Coast Guard investigation panel hopes that the truth will provide some comfort to the families of the crew members. OceanGate has suspended all operations and appointed a new CEO to oversee the shutdown of the company. The investigation is expected to take several years due to its complexity.
