U.S. Coast Guard releases report on OceanGate, 2 years after fatal Titan implosion
The United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation has released a final report on the operating company responsible for the Titan submersible, which imploded two years ago while attempting to dive to the wreckage of the Titanic, killing all five on board.
The report, released on Tuesday, says the MBI found that OceanGate didn't follow engineering protocols for safety, testing or vessel maintenance.
The 335-page document also highlighted problems with how the business operated, its workplace culture and the need for improvements for regulatory oversight for "manned submersibles and vessels of novel design."
"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 reads.
"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 event prompted an international search and rescue operation at the time. The Titan had lost contact with its support vessel the Polar Prince on June 18, 2023.
It was eventually determined the vessel's hull lost structural integrity and imploded, killing the crew that included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood and renowned Titanic researcher Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
"This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable," said Jason Neubauer, Titan MBI chair.
"The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence. There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework."
'Critically flawed'
The "primary causal factors" for the tragedy was the company failing to address engineering issues, reads the MBI reports, and a lack of understanding of how the hull of the vessel would react to the "inherently hazardous environment."
The company also continued to use the Titan after several incidents that compromised the hull's integrity.
The report also listed contributing factors, like OceanGate's "critically flawed" safety culture and operational practices.
"At the core of these failures were glaring disparities between their written safety protocols and their actual practices," the report reads.
"OceanGate's chief executive officer's sustained efforts to misrepresent Titan as indestructible due to unconfirmed safety margins and alleged conformance with advanced engineering principles provided a false sense of safety for passengers and regulators."
The U.S. Coast Guard said there was a "missed opportunity" on the government's part to intervene before the tragedy, pointing to a 2018 OceanGate whistle-blower as well as deficient communication between Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard on Seaman's Protection Act protocols.
"Early intervention may have resulted in OceanGate pursuing regulatory compliance or abandoning their plans for Titanic expeditions," it said.
Ultimately, the report made 17 recommendations, including establishing an industry working group to review and update the framework to help submersibles achieve safety standards similar to the ones of surface vessels.
The report also said the U.S. Coast Guard should push for federal requirements to expand so there would be "proper regulatory oversight" for the types of submersibles that carry our oceanographic research operations.
Another recommendation calls for required communication on all submarines and submersibles that conduct commercial or scientific operations, and a new requirement for submersible owners to give notification to local U.S. Coast Guard officers, which would include a dive plan and an emergency response plan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Why Canada declined to work with OceanGate, firm behind doomed Titan sub
Two years before OceanGate's Titan submersible imploded on a descent to the wreck of the Titanic, a Canadian government department considered working with the company and had a staff member board a vessel to observe a dive, a letter accessed by Global News shows. On June 18, 2023, the submersible went missing in the northern Atlantic Ocean during an underwater expedition to view the site of the Titanic shipwreck. Those on board include a billionaire adventurer, a wealthy businessman and his son, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Last week, a U.S. Coast Guard report investigating the incident said the Canadian government appears to have considered collaborating with OceanGate to further maritime research in 2021. 2:07 Titan sub hearing: 1st week filled with tearful testimonies over OceanGate disaster The authors cited a May 19, 2021 letter to Rush, in which Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) expressed interest in the work OceanGate was doing. Story continues below advertisement A spokesperson for DFO confirmed to Global News that the department held 'a series of exploratory discussions with OceanGate' and 'was exploring the use of OceanGate's marine research systems to conduct scientific research and monitoring in marine conservation sites.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A copy of the letter to Rush was shared with Global News and shows that a DFO employee intended to join a planned dive off the coast of St. John's, N.L. 'Based on this experience, and the outcomes of research conducted in canyons off the United States this year, DFO would like to conduct further discussions in the Fall to identify and secure opportunities to use the submersibles in priority sites off Canada in 2022 and beyond,' the letter said. The letter added that 'a contribution of 25K, plus in-kind, is being planned for at this time to support ship time costs in 2022.' The DFO spokesperson told Global News that the collaboration did not proceed after initial discussions and no funds were provided to OceanGate. 'At no point did DFO engage in joint work with OceanGate after the initial meeting in 2021, and at no point was funding provided,' the spokesperson said. The department acknowledged that 'there were conversations around having a DFO staff member to board the submersible to visit the HMS Titanic wreck site, to better understand the research and monitoring capabilities of OceanGate's equipment,' but that 'the individual did not participate.' Story continues below advertisement Instead, the individual boarded another vessel that was deployed by OceanGate while a submersible descent was taking place. 'In the summer of 2021, a DFO staff member boarded a vessel associated with OceanGate to participate, as an observer, in a mission off Newfoundland. The purpose was to learn more about OceanGate.' The spokesperson added: 'Upon conclusion of the mission, it was determined that their priorities did not align with the department's scientific objectives, and a further relationship was not pursued.' The spokesperson said the employee 'was on another ship operated by OceanGate, but not on board the Titan itself.' 2:07 Titan sub hearing: 1st week filled with tearful testimonies over OceanGate disaster The U.S. Coast Guard report said OceanGate's design and testing processes for the Titan submersible 'did not adequately address many of the fundamental engineering principles that would be crucial for constructing a hull to the precision necessary for the intended operations in an inherently hazardous environment.' Story continues below advertisement It added that OceanGate's safety culture and operational practices were 'critically flawed and at the core of these failures were glaring disparities between their written safety protocols and their actual practices.' DFO was not involved in safety assessments, the spokesperson told Global News. 'Vessel safety and regulatory oversight for submersibles do not fall within the mandate of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The department was not involved in risk assessment or operational oversight of any of OceanGate's missions,' the DFO spokesperson said.
National Observer
5 days ago
- National Observer
Titan disaster: federal Fisheries Department was "associated" with OceanGate mission
The federal Fisheries Department is shedding new light on its relationship with OceanGate, the American company behind the deepsea Titan submersible that imploded south of Newfoundland in 2023, killing all five people aboard. The department confirmed Thursday that in the summer of 2021, a staff member boarded a vessel "associated with OceanGate" to participate as an observer during a mission off Newfoundland. "The purpose was to learn more about OceanGate," the department said in an email sent to The Canadian Press. "Upon conclusion of the mission, it was determined that (OceanGate's) priorities did not align with the department's scientific objectives, and a further relationship was not pursued." No other details were provided about the trip. As well, the department did not respond to an email asking whether any federal employees raised safety concerns about OceanGate's expeditions to view the wreck of the Titanic. Earlier this week, the US Coast Guard released a report that concluded the tragedy on June 18, 2023, could have been prevented had OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush heeded safety warnings and calls for independent inspections and certification of the submersible. Rush was among those killed when Titan split apart as it descended near the Titanic, about four kilometres below the surface of the North Atlantic. Safety procedures at OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state, were 'critically flawed' and there were 'glaring disparities' between safety protocols and actual practices, the coast guard's report said. The 300-page report also revealed that in May 2021, Canada's Fisheries Department had written a "letter of support" to Rush, saying the department wanted to collaborate with his company to assess its submersibles for scientific research. Only portions of the letter were included in the coast guard report. The Fisheries Department sent a copy of the letter to The Canadian Press on Wednesday, along with a statement that suggested its initial discussions with OceanGate were routine. "Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) routinely expresses interest in scientific collaboration with a wide variety of potential partners," a spokesman said Wednesday in an email. "In early 2021, DFO had a series of exploratory discussions with OceanGate. The (May 2021) letter was sent to summarize the discussions that took place and the potential for the department to work with the company, beginning in 2021, to determine the applicability of its marine research systems." The letter, dated May 19, 2021, makes it clear that department officials were keen to work with Rush and his team. "DFO Maritimes Region is pleased with the discussions with OceanGate, the offer to participate in 2021, and the unique opportunity being offered to Canadian scientists and conservation efforts." The letter also mentions possible funding from Ottawa. The department spokesman also confirmed in the Wednesday email there were discussions about having a staff member board the submersible on an expedition to the Titanic, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland. But he said that never happened. The department did not explain why the relationship with OceanGate was eventually terminated or mention its collaboration on another vessel until pressed for details the next day. Besides DFO's letter of support in 2021, the US Coast Guard's investigation found no evidence of any actual collaboration or funding. The submersible's implosion also killed French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. In June, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the independent agency had completed its investigation report, which at the time was being reviewed.
CBC
5 days ago
- CBC
Federal Fisheries Department was part of previous OceanGate mission
The federal Fisheries Department is shedding new light on its relationship with OceanGate, the American company behind the deepsea Titan submersible that imploded south of Newfoundland in 2023, killing all five people aboard. The department confirmed Thursday that in the summer of 2021, a staff member boarded a vessel "associated with OceanGate" to participate as an observer during a mission off Newfoundland. "The purpose was to learn more about OceanGate," the department said in an email. "Upon conclusion of the mission, it was determined that [OceanGate's] priorities did not align with the department's scientific objectives, and a further relationship was not pursued." No other details were provided about the trip. When asked if any federal employees raised safety concerns about OceanGate, a department spokesman said safety for submersibles does not fall within the department's mandate. "The department was not involved in risk assessment or operational oversight of any subsequent missions," the spokesman said in an email. Earlier this week, the U.S. Coast Guard released a report that concluded the tragedy on June 18, 2023, could have been prevented had OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush heeded safety warnings and calls for independent inspections and certification of the submersible. Rush was among those killed when Titan split apart as it descended near the Titanic, about four kilometres below the surface of the North Atlantic. Safety procedures at OceanGate, a private company based in Washington state, were "critically flawed" and there were "glaring disparities" between safety protocols and actual practices, the coast guard's report said. The 300-page report also revealed that in May 2021, Canada's Fisheries Department had written a "letter of support" to Rush, saying the department wanted to collaborate with his company to assess its submersibles for scientific research. Only portions of the letter were included in the coast guard report. The Fisheries Department sent a copy of the letter on Wednesday, along with a statement that suggested its initial discussions with OceanGate were routine. "Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO] routinely expresses interest in scientific collaboration with a wide variety of potential partners," a spokesman said Wednesday in an email. "In early 2021, DFO had a series of exploratory discussions with OceanGate. The [May 2021] letter was sent to summarize the discussions that took place and the potential for the department to work with the company, beginning in 2021, to determine the applicability of its marine research systems." The letter, dated May 19, 2021, makes it clear that department officials were keen to work with Rush and his team. "DFO Maritimes Region is pleased with the discussions with OceanGate, the offer to participate in 2021, and the unique opportunity being offered to Canadian scientists and conservation efforts." The letter also mentions possible funding from Ottawa. The department spokesman also confirmed in the Wednesday email there were discussions about having a staff member board the submersible on an expedition to the Titanic, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland. But he said that never happened. The department did not explain why the relationship with OceanGate was eventually terminated or mention its collaboration on another vessel until pressed for details the next day. Besides DFO's letter of support in 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation found no evidence of any actual collaboration or funding. The submersible's implosion also killed French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. In June, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the independent agency had completed its investigation report, which at the time was being reviewed.
