Watch: U.S. Coast Guard Releases First Public Video Of Titan Submersible Wreckage

The United States Coast Guard has released the first public video of the OceanGate Titan wreckage, one year after the submersible tragically imploded on a dive to the Titanic wreck site in June 2023.

The incident claimed the lives of all five onboard, making it the first fatal accident involving a deep-sea submersible in over fifty years.

The footage was captured by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). It showed the Titan’s stern tail section resting on the ocean floor, with debris scattered nearby, comprising electronics, wiring, and carbon fibre hull parts. The Coast Guard’s investigation reveals that the sub’s experimental carbon hull imploded quickly, most likely with no prior warning.

The footage was shown at the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) hearings, which were supposed to investigate the causes of the accident and recommend legal action. The Coast Guard MBI probed four OceanGate personnel about the submersible’s design, construction, and operational practices.

A main focus was on the company’s late CEO, Richard Stockton Rush III, who avoided regulatory requirements like obtaining classification and getting a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection (COI). Rush, who died in the implosion, claimed that OceanGate was “pushing the envelope” with its design and acknowledged the risks at a 2022 conference.

Video Credits: WFAA/YouTube

OceanGate’s mission to make deep-sea expeditions more accessible focused on high-net-worth individuals, with “scientific” diving experiences priced between $20,000 and $35,000. The 2023 expedition was the third journey to the Titanic wreck site, and each participant reportedly paid $250,000.

The victims were British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani nationals Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, and Rush himself.

The vessel, measuring about 22 feet in length, 9 feet in height, and 8 feet in width, was built of carbon fibre and titanium. It gained attention for its unique design, which included being operated with a video game controller.

Communication with the Titan ended 90 minutes into the dive, and the submersible was later found in five large pieces around 1,600 feet from the Titanic’s bow.

OceanGate issued a public statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and hoping that the ongoing proceedings would uncover the cause of the tragic incident.

The Coast Guard’s investigation continues, with testimony from 24 witnesses, including several former OceanGate employees, likely in the coming two weeks.

Reference: USA Today, GeekWire

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