Why Canada declined to work with OceanGate, firm behind doomed Titan sub
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.
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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.
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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.'
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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.'
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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.'
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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.
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