The implosion of the Titan submersible was “preventable” and caused by the owner’s failure to follow established protocols for engineering, safety, testing, and maintenance, a final report on the incident released on Tuesday by the United States Coast Guard has found.
The June 18, 2023 implosion of the Titan—a tourist submersible that brought passengers to the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean for the hefty price tag of up to $250,000—led to the instantaneous loss of five lives, including that of Oceangate’s CEO, Stockton Rush.
The report accused the company of harboring a “toxic work place environment,” citing the firings of some staff members and the threat of firings against others to dissuade employees from “expressing safety concerns.” The company also engaged in intimidation tactics to “evade regulatory scrutiny,” according to the report.
Read more: The Titan Sub and the Dangers of Unregulated Deep-Sea Tourism
The USCG criticized OceanGate’s use of the Titan despite numerous incidents that compromised the “integrity of the hull,” which already had flawed design issues in terms of thickness, winding, and curing standards. It noted that the carbon fiber used to make the submersible is strong, but it is not reliable under pressure.
The company’s failure to investigate mishaps in the Titan during dives before the June 2023 incident led to the submersible’s tragic implosion, which generated international interest.
This is a developing story. More details to follow.
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