OceanGate CEO ‘completely ignored' flawed Titan sub before deadly Titanic trip, new report finds
It also found that the Titan's disappearance — and eventual implosion — was 'preventable'.
'This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable,' said Jason Neubauer, the Titan Marine Board of Investigation Chair, while calling for greater oversight.
'The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence.'
Rush, who acted as the Titan sub's pilot, was singled out as the driving force that led to the catastrophe.
The OceanGate boss 'exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals,' the report found.
It also 'identified evidence of a potential criminal offence'. Had Rush survived, the coast guard would have recommended the US justice department consider pursuing a separate criminal investigation.
How the company was run allowed Rush to 'completely ignore' critical data and other safety measures ahead of the doomed expedition to the Titanic's ruins.
'The lack of both third-party oversight and experienced OceanGate employees on staff during their 2023 Titan operations allowed OceanGate's chief executive officer to completely ignore vital inspections, data analyses, and preventative maintenance procedures, culminating in a catastrophic event," the report says.
The report detailed eight primary causal factors that led to the sub's implosion. They are:
OceanGate's design and testing processes didn't address 'the fundamental engineering principles' needed for operations in 'an inherently hazardous environment'.
OceanGate did not understand the expected cycle life of the sub's hull.
The company relied too heavily on a real-time monitoring system of the sub's condition, but failed to meaningfully examine the data the system provided.
OceanGate continued to use the Titan following incidents that 'compromised the integrity of the hull and other critical components'.
The Titan's carbon fibre construction led to issues that weakened its overall structural integrity.
The company failed to investigate the sub after 'mishaps that negatively impacted its hull and components during dives' before the implosion.
OceanGate's 'toxic workplace environment,' which utilised firings or senior staff members and the looming threat of being fired to keep employees from sharing safety concerns.
The company's failure to conduct 'preventative maintenance' on the sub's hull or protect it from elements during the off-season ahead of the doomed 2023 expedition.
However, it also confirmed the overarching cause was a 'loss of structural integrity,' which led to the 'instantaneous' death of all five people on board.
The Titan submersible imploded while Rush and his four passengers were on a dive to see the wreckage of the Titanic.
The other four passengers killed in the implosion included Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood (48); his son, Suleman Dawood (19); British businessman Hamish Harding (58); and French explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet (77).
The report also noted that OceanGate failed to investigate a whistleblower's complaint in 2018. Had there been an earlier investigation, the report suggests, OceanGate could have either met regulatory requirements or changed its plans for the Titanic expedition, the report found.
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Irish Examiner
05-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Negligence of Titan tour operator chief contributed to implosion deaths
The negligence exhibited by the chief executive of the tour operator responsible for the Titan submersible, which fatally imploded near the wreckage of the Titanic, contributed to the deaths of four people, a report has concluded. The US Coast Guard said OceanGate Expeditions 'leveraged intimidation tactics… to evade regulatory scrutiny' before the implosion of the deep-sea vessel which led to the deaths of five people, including chief executive Stockton Rush, in June 2023. British adventurer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet, were also killed in the incident. For several years preceding the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favourable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny The report, authored by lead investigator Thomas Whalen and marine board chairman Jason Neubauer, concluded that in Mr Rush's case, there was evidence of 'potential criminal offences'. It concluded Mr Rush had 'exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals' and may have been accused of 'misconduct or neglect of ship officers' had he survived the incident. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison in the US. The report said OceanGate had a 'toxic workplace environment' and used the 'looming threat of being fired' to prevent staff from coming forward with safety concerns. It added that analysis revealed a 'disturbing pattern of misrepresentation and reckless disregard for safety'. On Tuesday, the US Coast Guard published a lengthy report which identified eight 'primary causal factors' that led to the fatal implosion. British adventurer Hamish Harding was one of five people on board the vessel when it imploded (Dirty Dozen Productions/PA) The report criticised OceanGate's design and testing processes and the continued use of the Titan submersible despite 'a series of incidents that compromised the integrity of the hull and other critical components'. The tour operator's former director of engineering was reported by the US Coast Guard to have said the first hull used on the Titan submersible was akin to a 'high school project'. According to the report, a contractor hired by OceanGate in 2022 voiced 'numerous safety concerns' to a company director, before being told: 'You have a bad attitude, you don't have an explorer mindset, you know, we're innovative and we're cowboys, and a lot of people can't handle that.' The report read: 'For several years preceding the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favourable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny. 'By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges, OceanGate was ultimately able to operate Titan completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols, which had historically contributed to a strong safety record for commercial submersibles. 'The lack of both third-party oversight and experienced OceanGate employees on staff during their 2023 Titan operations allowed OceanGate's chief executive officer to completely ignore vital inspections, data analyses, and preventative maintenance procedures, culminating in a catastrophic event.' Addressing potential criminality, the report said: 'Had OceanGate's CEO and chief pilot survived the incident, the MBI (Marine Board of Investigation) would have recommended that the commandant refer the matter to DoJ (Department of Justice) for their consideration on whether to pursue a separate criminal investigation. 'The MBI concluded that Mr Rush, in his dual role as CEO and as the acting master or pilot of the Titan submersible, exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals. 'As both a corporate executive responsible for the vessel's operation and its master during the casualty, Mr Rush may have been subject to criminal liability under the standards set forth in 18 USC § 1115 (misconduct or neglect of ship officers).'
Irish Independent
05-08-2025
- Irish Independent
OceanGate CEO ‘completely ignored' flawed Titan sub before deadly Titanic trip, new report finds
The 335-page report, released today, revealed that OceanGate had 'critically flawed' safety practices and a toxic workplace culture — and that Rush's 'negligence' contributed to the deaths of those on board. It also found that the Titan's disappearance — and eventual implosion — was 'preventable'. 'This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable,' said Jason Neubauer, the Titan Marine Board of Investigation Chair, while calling for greater oversight. 'The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence.' Rush, who acted as the Titan sub's pilot, was singled out as the driving force that led to the catastrophe. The OceanGate boss 'exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals,' the report found. It also 'identified evidence of a potential criminal offence'. Had Rush survived, the coast guard would have recommended the US justice department consider pursuing a separate criminal investigation. How the company was run allowed Rush to 'completely ignore' critical data and other safety measures ahead of the doomed expedition to the Titanic's ruins. 'The lack of both third-party oversight and experienced OceanGate employees on staff during their 2023 Titan operations allowed OceanGate's chief executive officer to completely ignore vital inspections, data analyses, and preventative maintenance procedures, culminating in a catastrophic event," the report says. The report detailed eight primary causal factors that led to the sub's implosion. They are: OceanGate's design and testing processes didn't address 'the fundamental engineering principles' needed for operations in 'an inherently hazardous environment'. OceanGate did not understand the expected cycle life of the sub's hull. The company relied too heavily on a real-time monitoring system of the sub's condition, but failed to meaningfully examine the data the system provided. OceanGate continued to use the Titan following incidents that 'compromised the integrity of the hull and other critical components'. The Titan's carbon fibre construction led to issues that weakened its overall structural integrity. The company failed to investigate the sub after 'mishaps that negatively impacted its hull and components during dives' before the implosion. OceanGate's 'toxic workplace environment,' which utilised firings or senior staff members and the looming threat of being fired to keep employees from sharing safety concerns. The company's failure to conduct 'preventative maintenance' on the sub's hull or protect it from elements during the off-season ahead of the doomed 2023 expedition. However, it also confirmed the overarching cause was a 'loss of structural integrity,' which led to the 'instantaneous' death of all five people on board. The Titan submersible imploded while Rush and his four passengers were on a dive to see the wreckage of the Titanic. The other four passengers killed in the implosion included Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood (48); his son, Suleman Dawood (19); British businessman Hamish Harding (58); and French explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet (77). The report also noted that OceanGate failed to investigate a whistleblower's complaint in 2018. Had there been an earlier investigation, the report suggests, OceanGate could have either met regulatory requirements or changed its plans for the Titanic expedition, the report found.
RTÉ News
05-08-2025
- RTÉ News
Titan operator used 'intimidation tactics' to evade scrutiny
The tour operator responsible for the Titan submersible, which imploded near the wreckage of the Titanic, "leveraged intimidation tactics…to evade regulatory scrutiny", a US Coast Guard investigation report has concluded. The incident resulted in the deaths of five people in June 2023, including British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood. The chief executive of tour operator OceanGate Expeditions, Stockton Rush, and French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet, were also killed in the incident. The US Coast Guard published a 335-page report in which identified eight "primary causal factors" that led to the fatal implosion. The report said OceanGate had a "toxic workplace environment" and used the "looming threat of being fired" to prevent staff from coming forward with safety concerns. It added that analysis revealed a "disturbing pattern of misrepresentation and reckless disregard for safety". The report criticised OceanGate's design and testing processes and the continued use of the Titan submersible despite "a series of incidents that compromised the integrity of the hull and other critical components". The tour operator's former director of engineering was reported by the US Coast Guard to have said the first hull used on the Titan submersible was akin to a "high school project". According to the report, a contractor hired by OceanGate in 2022 voiced "numerous safety concerns" to a company director, before being told: "You have a bad attitude, you don't have an explorer mindset, you know, we're innovative and we're cowboys, and a lot of people can't handle that." Authored by lead investigator Thomas Whalen and marine board chairman Jason Neubauer, it read: "For several years preceding the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favourable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny. "By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion and oversight challenges, OceanGate was ultimately able to operate Titan completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols, which had historically contributed to a strong safety record for commercial submersibles. "The lack of both third-party oversight and experienced OceanGate employees on staff during their 2023 Titan operations allowed OceanGate's chief executive officer to completely ignore vital inspections, data analyses, and preventative maintenance procedures, culminating in a catastrophic event."
