[Regnum] The OceanGate company was the main culprit in the Titan bathyscaphe disaster, which occurred during a dive in the Atlantic Ocean in 2023. This was reported on the US Coast Guard website on August 5.
Experts say the tragedy was caused by OceanGate's poor design, certification, maintenance and inspection procedures for the Titan submersible. The report also cites a "toxic corporate culture" at the company that contributed to poor decision-making.
In addition, experts noted that the current legislation for underwater operations and new types of vessels is not sufficiently developed, and the system for reporting violations under the Law on the Protection of Seafarers' Rights has proven ineffective.
"This maritime tragedy and the loss of five lives could have been prevented," said Titan MBI Chairman Jason Neubauer.
According to media reports, during the investigation it was established that the company did not conduct the necessary research and did not eliminate the defects in the bathyscaphe's hull after the expedition to the Titanic.
The crew of the Titan bathyscaphe, which sank on June 18, 2023, during an expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic, sent an "everything is fine" signal shortly before the tragedy. The crew's last message said that the bathyscaphe dropped two weights used as ballast, after which communication was finally lost.
There were five people on board the submersible: OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman and billionaire Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleiman, and French aquanaut Paul-Henri Narjol.
On February 12, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released an audio recording of what was believed to be the explosion of the Titan submersible. The sound of the explosion was recorded by a NOAA recorder located approximately 1,500 km from the scene. The recording features white noise followed by a loud rumble.
Related:
OceanGate 09/18/2024 Coast Guard Official OceanGate Titan Sub Transcript
OceanGate 05/28/2024 Billionaire to Take $20 Million Sub to Titanic, Prove Industry Safe After OceanGate Implosion
OceanGate 08/07/2023 Sikh Man Who Turned the Tables on Shoplifter Facing Criminal Charges
OceanGate 09/18/2024 Coast Guard Official OceanGate Titan Sub Transcript
OceanGate 05/28/2024 Billionaire to Take $20 Million Sub to Titanic, Prove Industry Safe After OceanGate Implosion
OceanGate 08/07/2023 Sikh Man Who Turned the Tables on Shoplifter Facing Criminal Charges