The U.S. Coast Guard detailed the final communication from the crew of the Titan submersible, which included the message “all good here” before the fatal implosion on June 18, 2023. The seven-month exposure of the hull to the elements and lack of third-party review were discussed during a hearing conducted by the Marine Board of Investigation to determine the causes of the implosion and prevent future tragedies. The crew’s last messages, exchanged via text with staff aboard the support ship Polar Prince, indicated that everything was normal before the submersible lost contact after an exchange about depth and weight.
OceanGate’s former engineering director, Tony Nissen, testified that there was pressure to rush the operations and get the Titan into the water, which may have compromised safety decisions and testing. Nissen mentioned that the Titan was struck by lightning during a test mission in 2018, leading to concerns about the hull’s integrity. Despite expressing reservations about the submersible’s functionality to Stockton Rush, Nissen was fired in 2019. He also mentioned that Rush was difficult to work for, with an unpredictable nature that led to clashes within the company.
The ongoing Marine Board of Investigation aims to provide recommendations to the Coast Guard’s commandant once the hearing concludes. The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting an investigation into the implosion of the Titan. The tragic incident claimed the lives of Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate, along with veteran Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, and British adventurer Hamish Harding. The implosion, which led to the suspension of OceanGate’s operations, prompted a worldwide debate about the future of private undersea exploration.
Witnesses scheduled to testify during the hearing include OceanGate’s former finance director, Bonnie Carl; and former contractor Tym Catterson. Not all key OceanGate representatives will be speaking, and the Coast Guard does not comment on the reasons for selective testimonies during ongoing investigations. The implosion of the Titan attracted global attention, as rescue efforts were launched after the submersible lost contact with its support vessel. The wreckage of the Titan was eventually found on the ocean floor near the Titanic.
OceanGate, which has no full-time employees at this time, will be represented by an attorney during the hearing. The company has been cooperating with the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board investigations since their inception. The search for the Titan involved various resources, including ships and planes, in an effort to locate any survivors after the communication loss. The investigation into the loss of the Titan was initially projected to be completed within a year, but it has taken longer due to the complexity of the case and the need to evaluate all possible factors surrounding the implosion.
