Research into imploded submarine Titan: deadly disaster could have been prevented

The deadly disaster with submarine Titan two years ago, in which all five people were killed, could have been prevented. That is the conclusion from a research report from the American Coast Guard into the accident, which is Tuesday appeared.

In June 2023, the Titan left for an expedition to the place where wreckage of the famous cruise ship Titanic were located. On board were Stockton Rush-the boss of Oceangate and also director of the Titan-and four passengers: a father and son from a well-to-do Pakistani family, a British adventurer and a French titanic expert.

The vessel got off the radar after an hour and a half. After a search of four days at the bottom of the ocean, debris of the Titan were found. The device is said to have been imploded just after the last contact with the mainland.

Poisonous work culture

According to the 300 -page research report, the submarine, an experimental design, was not made of the right material to descend to large depths. The vessel partially consisted of carbon (carbon fibers), while titanium or steel is more common. The submarine also did not have the necessary certificates and safety inspections. After a test dive with the vessel in 2022, alarm signals would have been ignored that should have been tackled before the Titan went on board with passengers in 2023.

A ‘poisonous work culture’ is also mentioned as the cause in the report. Just after the accident, sounds came out that Rush, the boss of Oceangate, systematically ignored the safety of the Titan’s safety. Critical staff were fired.

Delivered letter

In 2018, dozens of leading scientists and other stakeholders wrote on behalf of the Navy Technology Society one letter To Rush, in which they expressed their concerns about the poor safety of the Titan at that time. In it they say, among other things, that Rush is not willing to have his vessel tested and certified in accordance with the applicable safety rules, and that he “misleads the public and violates the codes of the profession”.

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