Titan submersible implosion
Source: By The Indian Express
More than a year after the deep-sea exploration submersible ‘Titan’ imploded during its trip to the wreckage of the Titanic, hearings have begun on what went wrong with the mission.
The United States Coastal Guard’s Marine Board public hearings, from 16 to 7 September 2024, will assess whether equipment failure, personnel negligence, or any other factors contributed to the implosion.
In June 2023, Titan carried five people nearly 4,000 metres down the Atlantic Ocean to view the 1912 wreckage of the Titanic. Its passengers included Stockton Rush, 61, the founder and CEO of the US-based company OceanGate Inc. which operated the mission. Although it had organised similar trips since 2021, the small vessel lost contact with those at the surface in this case.
The submersible’s wreckage was found a few days later, confirming that all five people on board were killed. OceanGate has since suspended its operations. Recently, video footage from the US Coast Guard showed the Titan wreckage on the ocean floor. Here is what the hearings have revealed so far and what we know about the incident.
What was the Titan submersible implosion?
OceanGate Inc. was established in 2009, specialising in organising ocean exploration trips. It “focused on providing crewed submersible services to enable researchers and explorers to access the oceans’ vast resources”, according to its website.
But one such trip would ultimately prove disastrous for its five passengers — British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, British businessman Hamish Harding, 58, Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a 77-year-old former French navy diver and explorer, and Stockton Rush.
The Titan had a support ship called Polar Prince, which sent repeated messages. One of the last messages from Titan’s crew to Polar Prince stated, “All good here”.
For the trip to the Titanic’s wreckage, located approximately 740 km from Newfoundland, Canada, no prior diving experience was required. Anyone above 18 years of age could sign up, with each ticket costing $250,000. In this case, after communications were lost, search operations determined that a “catastrophic implosion” had occurred due to high water pressure. The people onboard were believed to have been instantly killed.
What has been found in the hearings?
According to the US Coast Guard, “The hearing will review testimony from technical experts, crew members, and other relevant parties, and will examine evidence related to the submersible’s design, operation, and safety protocols.”
The Titan case highlighted the risks of the burgeoning, global adventure tourism industry, with activities like space or deep-sea exploration offered at high price tags and largely unregulated at present. What level of safeguards should be mandated, while allowing novel technology and experimentation, is still a question of debate.
At the end of the first week, multiple testimonies have been provided. According to the Associated Press, OceanGate’s scientific director Steven Ross told the investigators the sub experienced a malfunction just days before the Titanic dive.
Earlier in the week, former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge said he frequently clashed with Stockton Rush. “The whole idea behind the company was to make money,” he said, adding, “There was very little in the way of science.” According to the BBC, he described the incident as “inevitable” as the company “bypassed” standard rules.
Coast Guard officials noted at the start of the hearing that the submersible had not been independently reviewed, as is standard practice. However, Renata Rojas, a mission specialist for the company, said the firm was staffed by competent people who wanted to “make dreams come true.”
The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation will evaluate all evidence and testimony to prepare a final report after the hearings conclude. “This report will include findings of fact, conclusions, and safety recommendations aimed at enhancing safety protocols and preventing future tragedies,” the official fact sheet said. The report will be released to the public once it is reviewed and approved by the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
