Titan submersible's design a primary factor in implosion, says US Coast Guard
The Titan was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic when it lost contact with its support vessel during descent.
WASHINGTON - A US Coast Guard investigative board concluded on Aug 5 that the 'inadequate design' of the Titan submersible was a primary contributing factor in its
implosion in 2023 that left five people dead .
The Titan was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic – a British passenger liner that sank in 1912, killing at least 1,500 on board – when it lost contact with its support vessel during descent. Its remains were found four days later, littering the seabed about 488m from the bow of the Titanic wreck.
The implosion was preventable, the chair of the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, Mr Jason Neubauer, said as a 300-page report was released following a two-year probe.
'There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework,' he said in a statement.
A media spokesperson at OceanGate, the US-based company that managed the tourist submersible and suspended all operations after the incident, was not immediately available for comment.
The board determined that the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's 'inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan'.
It also cited "a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate", an inadequate regulatory framework for submersibles and other novel vessels, and an ineffective whistleblower process.
The report added '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 board found that OceanGate failed to investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition.
It said data from Titan's real-time monitoring system should have been analysed and acted on during that expedition.
It also criticised OceanGate for failing to properly store the Titan before the 2023 Titanic expedition. REUTERS
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Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Titan submersible's design a primary factor in implosion, says US Coast Guard
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Titan was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic when it lost contact with its support vessel during descent. WASHINGTON - A US Coast Guard investigative board concluded on Aug 5 that the 'inadequate design' of the Titan submersible was a primary contributing factor in its implosion in 2023 that left five people dead . The Titan was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic – a British passenger liner that sank in 1912, killing at least 1,500 on board – when it lost contact with its support vessel during descent. Its remains were found four days later, littering the seabed about 488m from the bow of the Titanic wreck. The implosion was preventable, the chair of the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, Mr Jason Neubauer, said as a 300-page report was released following a two-year probe. 'There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework,' he said in a statement. A media spokesperson at OceanGate, the US-based company that managed the tourist submersible and suspended all operations after the incident, was not immediately available for comment. The board determined that the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's 'inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan'. It also cited "a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate", an inadequate regulatory framework for submersibles and other novel vessels, and an ineffective whistleblower process. The report added '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 board found that OceanGate failed to investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition. It said data from Titan's real-time monitoring system should have been analysed and acted on during that expedition. It also criticised OceanGate for failing to properly store the Titan before the 2023 Titanic expedition. REUTERS
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
Titan submersible's ‘inadequate design' a primary factor in implosion: US coast guard
WASHINGTON: A United States Coast Guard investigative board concluded Tuesday (Aug 5) that the "inadequate design" of the Titan submersible was a primary contributing factor in its implosion in 2023 that left five people dead. The Titan was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic - a British passenger liner that sank in 1912, killing at least 1,500 on board - when it lost contact with its support vessel during descent. Its remains were found four days later, littering the seabed about 488m from the bow of the Titanic wreck. The implosion was preventable, the chair of the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, Jason Neubauer, said as a 300-page report was released following a two-year probe. "There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework," he said in a statement. A media spokesperson at OceanGate, the US-based company that managed the tourist submersible and suspended all operations after the incident, was not immediately available for comment. The board determined that the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's "inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan". It also cited "a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate", an inadequate regulatory framework for submersibles and other novel vessels, and an ineffective whistleblower process. The report added "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 board found that OceanGate failed to investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition. It said data from Titan's real-time monitoring system should have been analysed and acted on during that expedition.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
US Coast Guard says Titan submersible's design a primary factor in implosion
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Footage from a remotely operated vehicle shows, what the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation says is the debris of the Titan submersible that imploded while diving to the wreck of the Titanic, on the seafloor, September 17, 2024, in this still image from video. U.S. Coast Guard video courtesy of Pelagic Research Services/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo WASHINGTON - A U.S. Coast Guard investigative board concluded Tuesday that the "inadequate design" of the Titan submersible was a primary contributing factor in its implosion in 2023 that left five people dead. The Titan was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic - a British passenger liner that sank in 1912, killing at least 1,500 on board - when it lost contact with its support vessel during descent. Its remains were found four days later, littering the seabed about 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic wreck. The implosion was preventable, the chair of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, Jason Neubauer, said as a 300-page report was released following a two-year probe. "There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework," he said in a statement. A media spokesperson at OceanGate, the U.S.-based company that managed the tourist submersible and suspended all operations after the incident, was not immediately available for comment. The board determined that the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's "inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan." It also cited "a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate," an inadequate regulatory framework for submersibles and other novel vessels, and an ineffective whistleblower process. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore More train rides taken in first half-year, but overall public transport use stays below 2019 levels Asia Philippines, India shore up ties amid China tensions, US tariff risks Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street Asia Trump's transactional foreign policy fuels 'US scepticism' in Taiwan Singapore Beauty industry consumers hit by 464% rise in prepayment losses in first half of 2025 Singapore Over 5,900 vape products found in car at Woodlands Checkpoint Singapore 13 taken to hospital after accident involving SBS buses, car in Tampines The report added "for several years preceding the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favorable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny." The board found that OceanGate failed to investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition. It said data from Titan's real-time monitoring system should have been analyzed and acted on during that expedition. It also criticized OceanGate for failing to properly store the Titan before the 2023 Titanic expedition. REUTERS
