Public hearings into what caused the implosion of an experimental submersible headed to the Titanic wreckage last summer begin this week in North Charleston. All five people on board were killed.
“These proceedings are not just a formality,” said Titan Marine Board of Investigation Chair Jason Neubauer during a press conference Sunday morning.
“They are a critical step in our mission to understand the contributing factors that led to the incident and even more importantly, the actions needed to prevent a similar occurrence.“
On June 18, 2023, the Titan submersible, operated by the American tourism and expedition company OceanGate, made news worldwide after it lost communication with its support vessel less than two hours into its Northern Atlantic dive. Search and rescue teams hoping to save lives raced the clock as the vessel’s oxygen supply was expected to last just 96 hours.
Then on June 22, 2023, four days after it disappeared, the submersible’s wreckage was found a little more than 300 yards off the bow on the Titanic. Investigators said it imploded.
Lost were Stockton Rush, the chief executive officer of OceanGate; Hamish Harding, a British businessman; Paul Henri Nargeolet, a Titanic expert and French, deep-sea explorer; Shahzada Dawood, a Pakistani-British businessman; and Dawood’s son, 19-year-old Suleman.
“The entire Marine Board extends our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of those lost,” said Neubauer. “We recognize the immense pain and enduring grief this tragedy has caused.”
Family member of those killed are expected to attend the public hearings over the next two weeks. They were convened by the U.S. Coast Guard as a high-level investigation involving the Marine Board of Investigation.
“This is one of the most complex investigations that I’ve ever been involved with,” said Neubauer. “It stems from the offshore nature of the incident and the depth at which it occurred.”
Expected to testify are former employees of OceanGate, including a co-founder, as well as scientists and industry experts. The company immediately suspended operations last year after the implosion.
The U.S. Coast Guard says its mission is to uncover the facts and look for any misconduct or negligence. If a criminal act was committed, it will report its findings to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Officials say North Charleston was chosen because it’s a neutral location for witnesses coming from around the world. The city also has strong ties to the U.S. Coast Guard.
