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The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded that OceanGate’s poor safety culture and design failures caused the Titan sub implosion in June 2023. All five passengers aboard the submersible died during a deep-sea expedition to the Titanic wreck site.
The final Marine Board of Investigation report released Tuesday highlights systemic issues. Investigators say OceanGate ignored core engineering principles while designing and testing the Titan. Despite serious risks, the company continued operating the submersible.
OceanGate’s leaders failed to evaluate the Titan’s carbon fibre hull, a material considered unsafe for deep-sea use. Each dive likely weakened the vessel further. Yet, the company took no action to assess or replace the compromised structure.
Instead of following its written safety protocols, OceanGate often ignored them. The report says top executives, including the CEO, promoted Titan as “indestructible,” misleading both passengers and regulators.
Even worse, OceanGate fostered a toxic work environment. The company pressured employees and contractors to stay silent about safety concerns. Fear of termination kept many from speaking out.
The June 2023 expedition began off the coast of Newfoundland. Communication with the sub was lost shortly after launch. Onboard were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, a British billionaire, a Pakistani businessman and his son, and a Titanic expert. All perished when the vessel imploded.
The U.S. Coast Guard found that OceanGate didn’t study the life span of the Titan’s hull. It also failed to act after multiple warning signs. As a result, the tragedy was both foreseeable and preventable.
The Titan case has raised broader questions about the regulation of private submersible companies. Experts say new rules are urgently needed to ensure safety in commercial deep-sea tourism.
