Investigations have commenced into the loss of the Titan submersible, which is believed to have imploded during its dive to the Titanic wreck site on Sunday, resulting in the death of all five crew members. The craft’s experimental design, safety standards, and lack of certification have raised questions.
The US Coast Guard announced on Thursday that debris consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber had been found by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) searching the seabed near the Titanic wreck site, located 400 miles south of St John’s, Newfoundland. The crew onboard the submersible included British adventurer Hamish Harding, French Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, and American Stockton Rush, a co-founder of OceanGate, the company that operated the lost sub.
Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US First Coast Guard District stated that investigators would attempt to determine what had happened to Titan. He described it as a “complex case” that occurred in a remote part of the ocean and involved individuals from several different countries.
The US Navy reported that it had detected an “anomaly” likely to have been the fatal implosion of the Titan. Film director James Cameron claimed his deep-sea exploration sources detected a “loud bang” that could have marked the moment when those onboard lost their lives.
Cameron, who has made 33 dives to the Titanic wreck and is part owner of Triton Submarines, expressed skepticism when he heard OceanGate was making a deep-sea submersible with a composite carbon fiber and titanium hull. He presumed that critics were correct in warning that such a hull would enable delamination and microscopic water ingress, leading to progressive failure over time.
Other industry experts and a whistleblowing employee raised alarms in 2018, criticizing OceanGate for opting against seeking certification and operating as an experimental vessel. In 2019, OceanGate expressed concern that the certification process could slow down development and hinder innovation.
Cameron drew parallels between the loss of the Titanic and the Titan, claiming both tragedies were preceded by unheeded warnings. He stated, “Here we are again. And at the same place. Now there’s one wreck lying next to the other wreck for the same damn reason.”