The Transportation Safety Board’s report into the implosion of the Titan submersible off the coast of Newfoundland nearly three years ago has concluded that the tragedy occurred because the submersible operated without oversight.
The Titan was operated by OceanGate as part of regular expeditions to the wreck of the Titanic.
The implosion of the submersible on June 18th, 2023 claimed the lives of five people including OceanGate CEO, Stockton Rush.
(via OceanGate)
The TSB’s investigation found that the Titan’s carbon fibre hull failed progressively, with damage accumulating during each dive.
Part of a presentation by the U.S. Coast Guard on the timeline leading up to the disaster
The hull’s properties were never tested to ensure they met the specifications used in the design and its construction did not follow standard engineering practice.
The company also didn’t know how long the hull would remain safe when used repeatedly for dives to the depth of the Titanic and failed to identify and mitigate key risks associated with its operation.
The safety board also found a broad gap in international oversight of submersibles, and that International Maritime Organization guidelines regarding design and operation of submersibles are non-binding to member states, resulting in inconsistent oversight around the world.
It has made six recommendations of the Department of Transport to address a number of gaps in safety and oversight protocols related to submersibles.
