WASHINGTON: Tragic developments continue to emerge from the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean as the US Coast Guard diligently investigates the catastrophic failure of the privately owned submersible, Titan. This vessel, operated by the US-based company OceanGate, met a devastating fate in June during a mission to explore the famed Titanic wreck, resulting in the loss of all five souls aboard.
The vessel’s catastrophic implosion, believed to have occurred on June 18 during its descent, was officially confirmed on June 22. This unfortunate incident brought an end to a global rescue mission that had captured the world’s attention.
In response to this unprecedented maritime disaster, the Coast Guard has initiated its most comprehensive investigative procedure, a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI).
“On October 4, the Marine safety engineers with the Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) successfully retrieved and transferred the remaining debris and evidence from the Titan submersible, which had settled on the seafloor of the North Atlantic Ocean,” stated the US Coast Guard in a recent release. The statement further noted, “Additional suspected human remains were meticulously extracted from within the wreckage and are to be subjected to analysis by US medical experts.”
It is important to mention that some wreckage and presumed human remains had previously been recovered in late June.
The Coast Guard is working in collaboration with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and various international investigative agencies to arrange a comprehensive examination of the Titan’s retrieved debris.
The five individuals on board the ill-fated Titan submersible were notable figures, including British explorer Hamish Harding, French submarine expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani-British tycoon Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman, and Stockton Rush, the CEO of the vessel’s operator, OceanGate Expeditions.
During the retrieval operations, a debris field was located approximately 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, which rests some 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland.
Tragically, it is presumed that the victims met their end instantly as the Titan, roughly the size of an SUV, collapsed under the immense pressure of the North Atlantic, situated at a depth of over two miles (nearly four kilometers).
Both the US Coast Guard and Canadian authorities are conducting comprehensive investigations to uncover the causes of this heart-wrenching tragedy. This catastrophe unfolded after the Titan lost all communication roughly an hour and 45 minutes after plunging into the ocean’s abyss.
Disturbingly, according to a report from the BBC, post-implosion court documents from the United States revealed that the CEO of OceanGate had allegedly disregarded safety warnings concerning the submersible.
It is worth noting that the Titan submersible featured a hull constructed from carbon fiber, with titanium end plates and a modest window on one end. While carbon fiber is known for its cost-effectiveness and remarkable strength, it is an untested and uncommon material for deep-sea explorations involving human passengers, as per the report.
The Coast Guard has disclosed its intention to conduct a public hearing at a later date, as reported by the BBC.
