The last known communication from the Titan submersible’s five-person crew was a brief message: “all good here,” shortly before the vessel tragically imploded deep in the ocean, killing everyone on board. This was disclosed during a hearing led by the US Coast Guard, as reported by the BBC.
The Titan, en route to explore the Titanic wreckage in June 2023, lost contact with its mother ship, the Polar Prince, less than two hours into its descent. A fortnight-long inquiry, which began Monday, aims to uncover the facts behind this disaster and suggest preventive measures for future undersea expeditions.
The US federal agency’s investigation, which has been ongoing for 15 months, is the first public phase of the probe into the disaster that spurred a massive international search and rescue operation. Questions surrounding the safety and regulatory protocols of private undersea exploration have gained renewed attention, particularly concerning OceanGate, the manufacturer of the Titan. The company, based in Washington, has faced scrutiny over its design choices, safety practices, and adherence to regulatory standards.
Over the next two weeks, as many as 10 individuals, including OceanGate’s co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein, former employees, and experts in marine safety, are expected to testify before the Marine Board of Investigations (MBI). MBI, the highest level of inquiry for US marine incidents, holds hearings on rare occasions, with Chairman Jason Neubauer noting, “Out of thousands of investigations conducted, less than one rise to this level.”
“There are no words to ease the loss endured by the families impacted by this tragic incident,” Neubauer said, hoping the hearing will bring clarity and prevent future tragedies.
On the morning of June 18, 2023, the submersible vanished after losing contact with the Polar Prince, sparking a sprawling search and rescue operation across four nations. The passengers included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, French diver Paul Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son Suleman. Debris, including presumed human remains, was recovered, and authorities confirmed the Titan suffered a catastrophic implosion under extreme oceanic pressure.
The hearing also revealed that the Titan’s hull had never undergone third-party testing and was left exposed to environmental elements for months prior to the ill-fated voyage.
