U.S. Coast Guard officials are conducting an investigation into the implosion of an experimental watercraft that was on its way to the Titanic wreck. The incident occurred in June 2023, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals aboard the Titan submersible. This tragedy sparked a global discussion on the future of private undersea exploration.
The investigation is taking place in Charleston County, South Carolina, with the objective of uncovering facts about the incident and creating recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future, according to a statement from the Coast Guard. The ongoing Marine Board of Investigation represents the highest level of marine casualty inquiry conducted by the Coast Guard.
Former employees of OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan, are scheduled to provide testimony. Among the individuals set to testify are the company’s former engineering director, Tony Nissen, the former finance director, Bonnie Carl, and former contractor Tym Catterson. However, key OceanGate representatives such as Wendy Rush, the widow of co-founder Stockton Rush, are not scheduled to testify.
The Coast Guard has not disclosed specific reasons for not calling certain individuals to testify during ongoing investigations. Melissa Leake, a Coast Guard spokesperson, mentioned that complex cases may involve multiple hearing sessions or additional witness depositions. Subpoenas have been issued for witnesses who are not government employees.
OceanGate, which currently has no full-time employees, will be represented by an attorney during the hearing and has been cooperating fully with the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board inquiries since their initiation. The company expressed condolences for the families impacted by the tragedy and hopes the investigation will provide clarity on the incident’s cause.
The Titan drew attention in the undersea exploration community due to its unique design and the creator’s decision to forego standard independent checks. The implosion claimed the lives of Stockton Rush, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood, and Hamish Harding. The final dive of the Titan took place on June 18, 2023, before losing contact with its support vessel.
Search efforts located the wreckage of the Titan on the ocean floor, approximately 300 meters off the bow of the Titanic. The investigation, originally planned for a year, has extended beyond the initial timeframe. The Coast Guard aims to examine all aspects of the Titan’s loss, including mechanical factors, regulatory compliance, and crew qualifications. The Titan had been conducting voyages to the Titanic wreckage site since 2021.
