Key revelations emerge in Coast Guard's Titan submersible hearing
Two weeks of public testimony concluded Friday in the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation to establish what caused the Titan submersible to implode during a deep ocean dive last year.
Two weeks of public testimony concluded Friday in the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation to establish what caused the Titan submersible to implode during a deep ocean dive last year, killing all five on board.
Its findings will be issued in a report that may include what the panel believes caused the incident; whether there was any act of misconduct, negligence or violation of law; and safety recommendations that could prevent future calamities involving submersibles.
The hearing in South Carolina included former employees and executives of OceanGate, the Washington state-based operator of the Titan, some speaking publicly for the first time, as well as industry experts who sought to piece together the culture of the company, its business plan and the run-up to the fatal dive.
In June 2023, the Titan was almost two hours into its descent to view the Titanic wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean off Canada when the vessel lost contact with its support ship, setting off a frantic search. The public’s fascination only deepened with reports that “banging noises” were detected from the search site and amid concerns over how long its passengers could sustain themselves in a cramped tube running out of oxygen.
Those on board were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, who was piloting the Titan; deep sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who was experienced in visiting the Titanic wreck site; British tycoon Hamish Harding, 58; and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son, Suleman, 19.
Rating: 5