
Fisheries Department offered support to firm behind doomed Titan submersible
The 300-page investigation report says the sinking, which claimed five lives, was 'preventable.'
It says the company responsible for organizing the trip, OceanGate, mishandled the vessel's construction and its preparation leading up to the accident.
As for the Fisheries Department, the report says it sent a letter to OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush in May 2021, saying the department planned to work with the company to assess the potential of its submersibles for scientific research.
According to the report, the letter goes on say the department could contribute funds for future missions, but the coast guard's investigation found no evidence of any further collaboration or funding.
The small sub was on its way to the wreck of the Titanic when it broke apart near the bottom of the ocean, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland on June 18, 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025.

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Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
Canada's Fisheries Department expressed interest in working with Titan sub company
HALIFAX — Two years before the Titan submersible imploded south of Newfoundland, killing five people, Canada's Fisheries Department sent a letter of support to the sub's American owner, the U.S. Coast Guard says in a report released Tuesday. The 300-page investigation report says the sinking was preventable. It says the company responsible for organizing the trip, OceanGate, mishandled the vessel's construction and its preparation leading up to the deep sea accident that attracted international attention. The small sub was on its way to the Titanic shipwreck when it broke apart near the bottom of the ocean, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland on June 18, 2023. Among those killed was OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The report says Rush ignored safety warnings and design flaws that could have resulted in criminal charges — had he survived. Investigators also found that the submersible's certification and inspection process were all inadequate. As for the Fisheries Department, the report says it sent a letter to Rush in May 2021, saying the department planned to work with his company to assess the potential of its submersibles for scientific research. 'DFO supports and advances marine conservation across the country … with the stated goal of increasing protected areas and advancing scientific research,' the report quotes the letter as saying. According to the report, the letter goes on to say OceanGate's equipment could offer Canadian scientists a unique opportunity to explore deepwater ecosystems, something that wasn't possible with existing Canadian technology. As well, the letter says the department could contribute funds for future expeditions. '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 says. And the letter suggests that an employee of DFO could participate in an upcoming dive, the coast guard says. 'However, while this individual was listed as a passenger for the 2021 expedition, the DFO representative was not recorded in the 2021 expedition dive logs as participating as a crew member on a Titan dive,' the report says. Besides the letter of support, the coast guard's investigation found no evidence of any actual collaboration or funding. The Canadian department said Tuesday it would respond to a request for comment, but it had yet to do so by late in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the report also found that when the submersible was put into storage in St. John's, N.L., in July 2022, the conditions at a waterfront facility were 'substandard.' 'Instead of being stored in a protected environment, the Titan and its … boxes were placed in the facility's parking lot, uncovered and exposed to the elements,' the report says, 'Based on weather data … the Titan's hull would have been subjected to multiple freeze and thaw cycles during its time stored outside …. OceanGate's continued neglect of the submersible's physical care is alarming.' On another front, the coast guard report describes how in late 2022, Rush was trying to get Memorial University of Newfoundland to sign an agreement that would exempt OceanGate from paying sales taxes. 'To qualify for the exemption, the (OceanGate) expedition was required to be conducted or sponsored by a recognized scientific or cultural organization,' the report says, adding that an agreement was signed in December 2022 with the university's Fisheries and Marine Institute. In September 2023, The Canadian Press obtained documents showing the agreement allowed OceanGate to store its equipment at the institute in St. John's. The documents, obtained through access to information laws, revealed that OceanGate had promised students and faculty would be given the opportunity 'to join OceanGate expeditions to support research endeavours.' The memorandum of understanding also said the institute would show off OceanGate's submersible to promote ocean literacy and the 'blue economy.' Rob Shea, then the Marine Institute's vice-president, sent an email to Rush in July 2022, saying the institution's 'proverbial doors … are open!' to OceanGate. 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Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canada's Fisheries Department expressed interest in working with Titan sub company
Article content HALIFAX — Two years before the Titan submersible imploded south of Newfoundland, killing five people, Canada's Fisheries Department sent a letter of support to the sub's American owner, the U.S. Coast Guard says in a report released Tuesday. Article content The 300-page investigation report says the sinking was preventable. Article content Article content It says the company responsible for organizing the trip, OceanGate, mishandled the vessel's construction and its preparation leading up to the deep sea accident that attracted international attention. Article content Article content The small sub was on its way to the Titanic shipwreck when it broke apart near the bottom of the ocean, almost 700 kilometres south of Newfoundland on June 18, 2023. Among those killed was OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Article content Article content The report says Rush ignored safety warnings and design flaws that could have resulted in criminal charges — had he survived. Investigators also found that the submersible's certification and inspection process were all inadequate. Article content As for the Fisheries Department, the report says it sent a letter to Rush in May 2021, saying the department planned to work with his company to assess the potential of its submersibles for scientific research. Article content 'DFO supports and advances marine conservation across the country … with the stated goal of increasing protected areas and advancing scientific research,' the report quotes the letter as saying. Article content Article content According to the report, the letter goes on to say OceanGate's equipment could offer Canadian scientists a unique opportunity to explore deepwater ecosystems, something that wasn't possible with existing Canadian technology. Article content Article content As well, the letter says the department could contribute funds for future expeditions. Article content '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 says. Article content And the letter suggests that an employee of DFO could participate in an upcoming dive, the coast guard says. Article content 'However, while this individual was listed as a passenger for the 2021 expedition, the DFO representative was not recorded in the 2021 expedition dive logs as participating as a crew member on a Titan dive,' the report says.