The US Coast Guard commenced a high-profile hearing on Monday to investigate the causes behind the tragic implosion of The Titan submersible, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals. The hearing, expected to span two weeks, opened with the presentation of an animation detailing the events leading up to the disaster.
According to reports from The Associated Press, the crew lost contact with the submersible following a series of text exchanges regarding its depth and weight during its descent. The Polar Prince, which was monitoring the Titan, sent multiple inquiries about the submersible’s status and whether it could still detect the ship on its onboard display. The Titan’s final, increasingly intermittent response was, “all good here.”
The Titan imploded on June 18, 2023.
The hearing revealed that the submersible may have been exposed to harsh conditions during seven months of storage in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Coast Guard officials noted that the hull had not undergone the standard third-party review process, a critical safety measure.
Tony Nissen, OceanGate’s former engineering director, testified on the first day of the hearing. He described feeling pressured to expedite the Titan’s operations, stating unequivocally, “100%” when asked if there was pressure to deploy the submersible quickly. When questioned about whether this pressure affected safety and testing protocols, Nissen hesitated before responding, “No,” while acknowledging that unlimited time and budget could allow for exhaustive testing.
Nissen also disclosed that the Titan was struck by lightning during a 2018 test mission, which might have compromised its hull. He revealed that he was terminated from his position in 2019, a year in which he had refused to allow the submersible to undertake a dive to the Titanic. Despite subsequent tests and adjustments made to the Titan, Nissen admitted to lacking trust in the operations staff and declined to pilot the submersible when asked by Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s co-founder.
The Marine Board of Investigation, the highest level of marine casualty investigation conducted by the Coast Guard, is overseeing the inquiry. The final recommendations from this hearing will be submitted to the Coast Guard’s commandant. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting its own investigation into the incident.
The search for the Titan drew global attention as it became increasingly clear that survival was unlikely. The wreckage was eventually discovered on the ocean floor, approximately 330 yards (300 meters) from the Titanic’s bow, as confirmed by Coast Guard officials.
