OceanGate’s Titan submersible experienced a catastrophic implosion during its June 2023 voyage to the Titanic wreck, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals on board, including the company’s chief executive. An official report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that the engineering processes used to design Titan were deficient. These inadequacies led to faults that prevented the vessel from meeting necessary strength and durability standards.
The NTSB highlighted that OceanGate had not conducted sufficient tests on Titan to understand its true structural integrity. Consequently, the company was unaware of existing damage that should have led to the submersible being taken out of service prior to its final dive.
The Titan disappeared in the North Atlantic while attempting to reach the Titanic, which is located approximately 372 miles from St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. A follow-up report released by the US Coast Guard in August described the incident as “preventable,” criticizing OceanGate’s safety practices as “critically flawed.”
The passengers aboard Titan, who each paid $25,000 for the expedition, included deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, as well as Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, along with Hamish Harding. The tragic incident has raised questions about the safety regulations governing submersible voyages and the accountability of the companies involved.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdeg7y4171xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss