The United States Coast Guard has released its final report into the catastrophic implosion of the Titan submersible, and it levies heavy criticism against OceanGate and its CEO Stockton Rush, who died in the tragedy.
The Titan imploded while on its descent to the Titanic wreck site on June 18th, 2023, instantly killing all five people on board.
The report concludes that OceanGate’s “failure to follow established engineering protocols for safety, testing, and maintenance of their submersible” was the primary cause of the implosion.
In the years leading up to the incident, they say the company used intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and a favorable reputation to “evade regulatory scrutiny.”
(A photo of the Titan’s tail cone on the ocean floor after the sub imploded in June, 2023.)
In fact, the report states that by “strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges,” OceanGate was able to operate the Titan “completely outside of established deep-sea protocols,” which historically has had a strong safety record for commercial submersibles.
The report lays heavy criticism on CEO Stockton Rush. It says a lack of third party oversight and experienced staff allowed Rush to “completely ignore vital inspections, data analyses, and preventative maintenance procedures.”
The investigation also points to a lack of action around a 2018 whistleblower’s complaint, calling it a “missed opportunity” for government intervention ahead of the first titan hull being tested, which could have resulted in OceanGate either pursuing regulatory compliance or abandoning their plans for Titanic expeditions.
