Latest news with #SulemanDawood
4 days ago
Voices call for justice, change after release of Titan implosion report
Family, friends, investigators and explorers say they're appalled and heartbroken, and are calling for accountability and justice after the United States Coast Guard released its final report on the implosion of the Titan submersible on Tuesday. The coast guard's Marine Board of Investigation report landed two years after OceanGate's Titan imploded while diving to the site of the Titanic wreck, killing all five people on board. The 335-page document outlines many problems with the company's operation, the integrity of the vessel and what led to the fatal incident in 2023. Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, Paul-Henri Nargeolet and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush were the crew members. The company suspended operations in July 2023. OceanGate spokesperson Christian Hammond told the Associated Press the company has been winding down, and was co-operating with the investigation. 'Not shocked' Harding was the chairman of Action Aviation. The company expressed its outrage over what the report revealed. We are obviously appalled by the contents of the investigation report, but not shocked, Mark Butler, CEO of Action Aviation, said in a statement to CBC News. It was very evident from the early stages of the investigation, now confirmed by the published report, that Mr. Rush had been trying to run his company on a shoestring, cutting corners, and paying little attention to basic safety and best practices. Butler took over for Harding after his death. He called Rush and his company's actions selfish and senseless. Butler said Harding's family have no plans to comment at this time. WATCH | U.S. Coast Guard releases damning report on Titan implosion: The family of Shahzada and Suleman Dawood also weighed in on the report's findings. In a statement to CBC News, the family said the report confirms that unregulated behaviour, a lack of accountability and a fundamentally flawed design caused the tragedy. But, it won't bring back what they've lost. No report can alter the heartbreaking outcome, nor fill the immeasurable void left by two cherished members of our family, the statement reads. The Dawood family also called for regulatory reform within the submersible industry. We believe that accountability and regulatory change must follow such a catastrophic failure. We hope this tragedy serves as a turning point and one that drives meaningful reform, rigorous safety standards, and effective oversight within the submersible industry, the statement reads. If Shahzada and Suleman's legacy can be a catalyst for regulatory change that helps prevent such a loss from ever happening again, it will bring us some measure of peace. Enlarge image (new window) Pieces of the Titan were scattered along the ocean floor after a fatal implosion during a dive to Titanic. Photo: Video thumbnail The Shaheed Suleman Dawood Mosque now stands in St. John's, made possible by a donation from Hussain Dawood, father and grandfather of the deceased. Suleman Dawood was the Titan's youngest passenger. He was 19 years old. 'There were really no checks and balances' The family of renowned French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet also expressed their desire for justice — beyond the report's findings. We also believe there are more entities legally responsible that weren't focused upon given how egregious OceanGate's conduct was, said Tony Buzzbee, the attorney representing Paul-Henri Nargeolet's estate, in a statement to CBC News. We look forward now to continuing our efforts in court to obtain justice for the family. Jason Neubauer, chair of the Marine Board of Investigation for Titan implosion, said OceanGate's workplace culture and failure to prioritize safety were key factors in the tragedy. OceanGate's culture was one of the worst, from a safety perspective, and it stems from a lot of different reasons, Neubauer said in an interview with CBC News. But the primary was that you had the head of the company, the CEO, serving in so many different roles. In the MBI report, Rush's relationship to the vessel is stated as chief pilot, chief executive officer and secretary of OceanGate's board of directors. He was a consolidation of power into one individual, and there were really no checks and balances, said Neubauer. If the CEO were still alive, Neubauer said MBI would recommend that a separate criminal investigation be opened for manslaughter. There was negligence involved there, not only from not complying with any of the regulatory standards and certifications and testing, but also for a failure to maintain the vessel with any standard of care, he said. There's negligence that would absolutely constitute a referral to the Department of Justice for a separate investigation. Neubauer said the company failed to follow through with safety systems put in place, disregarding safety data, even though warnings were there from the 2022 operating season. He also noted his surprise at the level of cost-cutting that occurred in OceanGate's operations. They downgraded the size of the support vessel so that the Titan had to be towed thousands of miles, said Neubauer. Enlarge image (new window) Wreckage from the Titan is hoisted from the ship that brought it back to St. John's harbour. Photo: Radio-Canada / PATRICK BUTLER The submersible was also stored outside over the winter in St. John's. That should have never occurred for a carbon fibre craft that is susceptible to porosity and moisture. Those things stand out, said Neubauer. The future of submersible exploration Larry Daley, Titanic expedition specialist, visited the Titanic wreck in a submersible himself in 2003, and considered Nargeolet a close friend. To him, the report revealed that the tragedy was one that could have been avoided. I knew in my heart and soul this was going to end poorly, Daley told CBC News. Daley said expeditions to the Titanic should continue, but safety should be a priority. Exploration is good. It'll keep going on for years. But you got to separate the fame from the fortune, Daley said. It all comes down to doing it safely and having the right equipment. Neubauer said the Titan, in his view, is a good case for regulatory change at an international level. Involving multiple nations and occurring on the high seas, he says it's one the International Maritime Organization could look at. In regard to submersible standards right now, they're recommendatory. We're going to recommend that they be mandatory just in case you have a situation like this, he said. Madison Taylor (new window) · CBC News · Journalist Madison Taylor is a multimedia journalist from Wellington, New Zealand, now based in St. John's, NL. With a passion for stories big and small, you can reach her at With files from Mark Quinn, Thomas Daigle and The Associated Press
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Titan disaster 'was preventable', says US Coast Guard
An investigation was held into the implosion of the OceanGate-operated vessel, which took place whilst it was en route to the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean on June 18, 2023. On Tuesday, August 5, the US Coast Guard published its findings in a 300-page document, which stated that the deaths of all five people onboard the submersible 'were preventable'. (Image: OceanGate Expeditions/PA) Among the passengers was Suleman Dawood, a 19-year-old Strathclyde University student, and his father, Shahzada. The implosion also killed Titan's operator and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, veteran Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and British adventurer Hamish Harding. Jason Neubaeur, Titan Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) chair, spoke out on Tuesday about the findings following a two-year investigation into the fatal incident. READ NEXT: Tributes for 'one of a kind chef' after unexpected death He said: 'This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable. 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. 'I am optimistic the Report of Investigation's findings and recommendations will help improve awareness of the risks and the importance of proper oversight while still providing a pathway for innovation.' The US Coast Guard's MBI determined the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's 'inadequate' design, certification, maintenance, and inspection process for the Titan. Other factors cited in the report include a 'toxic workplace culture' at the company, an 'inadequate' domestic and international regulatory framework for submersible operations and vessels of novel design, and an 'ineffective' whistleblower process under the Seaman's Protection Act. READ NEXT: Glasgow locals 'devastated' as Speirs Wharf canal barge sunk The US Coast Guard went on to say it found that OceanGate failed to properly investigate and address 'known hull anomalies' following its 2022 Titanic expedition. Investigators determined that the Titan's real-time monitoring system generated data that should have been analysed and acted on during this expedition. However, OceanGate is said not to have taken any action related to the data, conducted any preventative maintenance, or properly stored the Titan during the extended off-season before its 2023 Titanic expedition. The report made various recommendations, including expanding federal and international requirements to all submersibles conducting scientific or commercial dives and requiring Coast Guard documentation for all US submersibles. The Marine Board's report is now under review by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Once this process is completed, the Commandant will issue a final action memorandum confirming the US Coast Guard's position on the recommendations and any actions to be pursued. To view the US Coast Guard's MBI report, visit HERE.
The National
5 days ago
- General
- The National
Titan submersible disaster 'was preventable', says US Coast Guard
An investigation was held into the implosion of the OceanGate-operated vessel, which took place whilst it was en route to the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean on June 18, 2023. On Tuesday, August 5, the US Coast Guard published its findings in a 300-page document, which stated that the deaths of all five people onboard the submersible 'were preventable'. (Image: OceanGate Expeditions/PA) Among the passengers was Suleman Dawood, a 19-year-old Strathclyde University student, and his father, Shahzada. READ MORE: Home Secretary 'made false allegations against Palestine Action' The implosion also killed Titan's operator and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, veteran Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and British adventurer Hamish Harding. Jason Neubaeur, Titan Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) chair, spoke out on Tuesday about the findings following a two-year investigation into the fatal incident. He said: 'This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable. 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. 'I am optimistic the Report of Investigation's findings and recommendations will help improve awareness of the risks and the importance of proper oversight while still providing a pathway for innovation.' The US Coast Guard's MBI determined the primary contributing factors were OceanGate's 'inadequate' design, certification, maintenance, and inspection process for the Titan. Other factors cited in the report include a "toxic workplace culture" at the company, an "inadequat"' domestic and international regulatory framework for submersible operations and vessels of novel design, and an '"neffective" whistleblower process under the Seaman's Protection Act. The US Coast Guard went on to say it found that OceanGate failed to properly investigate and address "known hull anomalies" following its 2022 Titanic expedition. Investigators determined that the Titan's real-time monitoring system generated data that should have been analysed and acted on during this expedition. READ MORE: This is what a nuclear attack on Scotland would look like However, OceanGate is said not to have taken any action related to the data, conducted any preventative maintenance, or properly stored the Titan during the extended off-season before its 2023 Titanic expedition. The report made various recommendations, including expanding federal and international requirements to all submersibles conducting scientific or commercial dives and requiring Coast Guard documentation for all US submersibles. The Marine Board's report is now under review by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Once this process is completed, the Commandant will issue a final action memorandum confirming the US Coast Guard's position on the recommendations and any actions to be pursued.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Titan Ocean Submersible tragedy that killed Scots student 'could have been prevented'
Scots student, Suleman Dawood, 19, was among five killed in Titan implosion as report reveals tragedy was 'avoidable'. The catastrophic Titan sub disaster that killed a Scottish student could have been avoided, a damning US Coast Guard investigation has found. Suleman Dawood, 19, had just completed his first year at the University of Strathclyde's business school in Glasgow when he joined his dad, Shahzada Dawood, on the doomed expedition to visit the Titanic wreck in June 2023. But the voyage ended in horror when the Titan submersible imploded deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean, killing all five passengers, including Suleman and his father, British billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. In a searing 300 page report, the Coast Guard concluded that negligence by Rush "contributed to the deaths" of four individuals" and the chief executive 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. Investigators uncovered a "disturbing pattern of misrepresentation and reckless disregard for safety" at OceanGate, the Washington-based company behind the trip, and said Rush's leadership created a "toxic workplace environment" where staff were silenced by the threat of being fired if they raised safety concerns. The firm's former director of engineering likened the sub's early hull to a "high school project," while a contractor who warned of major design flaws was told he didn't have the right "cowboy mindset". The report blasted OceanGate's repeated use of the Titan vessel despite known flaws, a lack of inspection, and damage to the hull, including exposure to freezing Canadian temperatures before the fatal dive. Rush, who was both CEO and pilot of the Titan, bypassed regulations by reclassifying tourists as "mission specialists", to bypass regulations on small passenger vessels and claim its subs were oceanic research vessels. Former mission specialists and OceanGate employees said their participation was "purely for a ride in the submersible, not for scientific research," the report said. Suleman's death sent shockwaves through Glasgow, where the student had just finished his first year. Friends described him as "committed, emotionally wise and loved." The Titan lost contact with its support ship on June 18, 2023, about 435 miles south of St John's, Newfoundland. Days later, wreckage was found near the Titanic wreck, confirming the passengers had died in a devastating implosion just hours into the voyage. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. OceanGate was slammed for storing the Titan outside during winter, exposing its vessel to dangerous temperatures that compromised its structural integrity. The report found that vital inspections and safety data were ignored, and Rush may have submitted fraudulent documents to the US Coast Guard to get the green light for dives. Following the report's release, the grieving Dawood family issued a statement, saying: "No report can alter the heartbreaking outcome, nor fill the immeasurable void left by two cherished members of our family. "We believe that accountability and regulatory change must follow such a catastrophic failure. "If Shahzada and Suleman's legacy can be a catalyst for regulatory change that helps prevent such a loss from ever happening again, it will bring us some measure of peace."
STV News
6 days ago
- STV News
Implosion of Titanic sub which killed Scots uni student was 'preventable'
The implosion of a submersible, which killed a Strathclyde University student, was preventable, according to a Coastguard report. Suleman Dawood, 19, had just completed his first year at the Glasgow-based university's business school when he boarded the Titan vessel with his dad Shahzada Dawood. The vessel lost communication with tour operators in June 2023 around 435 miles south of St John's, Newfoundland, during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada. Five people were on board at the time, including British billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding and OceanGate founder Stockton Rush. The US Coast Guard investigation concluded that the negligence exhibited by Rush 'contributed to the deaths of four individuals,' and the chief executive may have been accused of 'misconduct or neglect of ship officers' had he survived the incident. Blue Origin Billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding was also on board. 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'. The tour operators' design and testing processes were criticised in the 300-page report. Oceangate's continued use of the Titan submersible despite 'a series of incidents that compromised the integrity of the hull and other critical components' was also slammed. he 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. OceanGate Expeditions The Titan submersible imploded during the expedition. '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).' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
