Titan submersible implosion

On June 19 2023, the OceanGate Expeditions-owned submersible Titan went missing off the North American coast in the Atlantic after losing contact with its mothership MV Polar Prince just an hour and 45 minutes into the dive to the wreckage of the Titanic.

On June 19 2023, the OceanGate Expeditions-owned submersible Titan went missing off the North American coast in the Atlantic after losing contact with its mothership MV Polar Prince just an hour and 45 minutes into the dive to the wreckage of the Titanic. An extensive rescue effort was then launched to locate the missing submersible but everything came to an end on June 22 when the US Coastal Guard confirmed that all five crew members on board the submersible had died after the vessel became subject to a "catastrophic implosion."

Who were the victims of the Titan submersible tragedy?

The victims killed in the implosion included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who piloted the vessel, British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Pakistani business tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman.

When was the Titan implosion detected?

The Titan submersible’s implosion was reportedly detected by a top-secret US Navy acoustic detection system just hours after the vessel went missing during a voyage to see the Titanic wreck. The Navy deployed the system to listen for the Titan almost immediately after it lost communication with its mothership MV Polar Prince after 4 am on June 18.

Was the Titan submersible safe?

A former employee of OceanGate Expeditions, the private company whose submersible vanished on a trip to the Titanic wreck, had previously raised alarms about the insufficient “quality control and safety” procedures of the vessel. David Lockridge was the Director of Marine Operations for the Titan project. His role included overseeing safety on the vessel. In 2018, he was fired by OceanGate after he expressed concern about the submersible's safety.
According to OceanGate, the Titan carried out more than 50 test dives, including one to depths comparable to those of the Titanic. However, the Titan experienced problems on prior voyages as well.

What was the cost of a trip on the ill-fated Titan submersible?

The Titan made three journeys to the Titanic since 2021. The trip, which costs around $250,000 per head, was meant to be an annual occasion that allowed visitors to get an up-close view of the ship's wreckage.

Who will investigate the causes of the accident and OceanGate?

A combination of governments will likely investigate the tragedy due to the company's operations in international waters, the US is going to lead as the company is based in Erwin, Washington.