Submersible Titan & Dark Seas
The tragic implosion of the OceanGate submersible, which occurred during its journey to the Titanic wreck last year, has left many questions unanswered. However, one of the final messages from the ill-fated crew was chillingly ironic: “all good here.”
This revelation came from the U.S. Coast Guard during the initial days of a two-week hearing into the incident, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate. The fact that the crew sent this message while facing impending disaster indicates they were unaware of the severe safety concerns that had plagued the vessel for years.
The last communication was sent when the Titan was at a depth of 2,274 meters (7,460 feet), while the Titanic Submersible itself rests at 3,800 meters (over 12,400 feet). Just before losing contact with their support ship, Polar Prince, the Titan relayed its final message: “Dropped two wts,” indicating the sub had released weights to aid its descent.
Making Waves
In addition to the final messages, new images revealed during the hearing depicted the Titan’s tail cone and other debris on the ocean floor, found four days after the vessel went silent. Witness testimonies during the hearing revealed a lack of confidence in the sub’s integrity. Tony Nissen, OceanGate’s former engineering director, expressed his skepticism and declined Rush’s invitation to pilot the Titan on its mission, stating, “I didn’t trust Stockton either.”
There were several red flags raised prior to the expedition, including a partial sinking incident about a month before the tragic voyage and previous concerns raised by other crew members regarding the sub’s safety. Reports indicated that Rush had even used expired carbon fiber for the sub’s construction. The pressing question remains: why did authorities not intervene to prevent this dangerous mission?
The U.S. Coast Guard has now shared the first image of the wreckage of the Titan Submersible, taken during the inquiry that began recently. This haunting image shows the tail cone protruding from the seabed, located more than 12,000 feet underwater, near the Titanic wreck. The debris field was discovered shortly after the sub lost contact, prompting a frantic search and rescue operation.
Final Communications with Titan Submarine
The inquiry also detailed the last exchanges between the Titan and Polar Prince. One of the final messages from Polar Prince asked for improved communication, following a brief interruption. The Titan Submersible responded that it had “lost system oand [sic] chat settings,” but communication ceased shortly thereafter.
At approximately 3,346 meters, the last message was recorded, right before all communications were lost. Following this, debris was found four days later, confirming the tragic fate of the five passengers on board.
Among the deceased were notable figures such as Stockton Rush, renowned French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and Pakistani businessmen Shahzada Dawood and his son, Sulaiman. The family of Nargeolet has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against OceanGate, asserting that he was unaware of the sub’s troubled history.
Testimonies and Concerns
The hearing featured various witnesses who expressed their discomfort about the Titan’s safety. For instance, Nissen noted he was kept in the dark about OceanGate’s plans for a Titanic mission when he was hired. He firmly stated, “I told him, I’m not getting in it,” due to distrust in the operational crew.
Catterson, another witness and former contractor for OceanGate, echoed similar sentiments, asserting he would not feel safe operating the Titan at such depths. He had raised concerns about the carbon fiber and titanium used in the vessel’s construction multiple times with Rush. Despite his warnings, Rush appeared unconcerned.
The hearing highlighted the lack of classification for the Titan, which is typically essential for ensuring safety and obtaining insurance. Catterson had suggested this classification to Rush, who did not prioritize it. Furthermore, the Titan had not met industry standards for testing, raising alarms about its readiness for deep-sea exploration.
A Troubling History
The inquiry also revealed that the Titan had faced numerous equipment issues in the years leading up to the implosion. In 2021, 70 problems were identified, followed by 48 more in 2022. Furthermore, a partial sinking incident occurred just weeks before the fatal expedition.
Nissen recounted an incident where he refused to sign off on a dive due to a crack in the sub’s hull, which ultimately led to his dismissal. Former employees voiced concerns about inexperienced workers handling crucial components of the submersible, creating a further sense of unease.
As the hearing progresses, scheduled to continue until September 27, the Marine Board of Investigation aims to uncover the factors leading to the catastrophic incident. They will explore potential misconduct or criminal actions connected to the tragedy.
In addition to the ongoing inquiry, the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting its investigation into the implosion, seeking to determine its probable cause.
As the families of the victims grieve their losses, the hope remains that this hearing will shed light on the events that led to such a devastating disaster and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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