Reports have emerged indicating that the Titan submersible did not comply with manufacturing safety standards, according to findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The NTSB’s report attributed the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals during a journey to explore the Titanic wreck, to Ocean Gate’s insufficient engineering practices.
Specifically, the report stated that “[Ocean Gate] was unable to establish the actual strength and durability of the Titan pressure vessel, leading to the operation of a carbon fiber composite vessel that developed delamination damage, which was later worsened by additional, unidentified damage. This ultimately caused internal structural damage and localized buckling failure of the pressure vessel.”
The agency has suggested that regulations for small vessels like the Titan submarine should be tightened.
This NTSB report aligns with earlier findings from the Coast Guard that were made public in August.
According to a report from the Coast Guard’s Marine Investigation Board, there were “serious deficiencies” in Ocean Gate’s safety protocols. The report highlighted a significant gap between the company’s safety procedures and the actual practices observed.
The Titan disappeared off the coast of Canada on June 18, 2023, capturing significant international attention and prompting a high-level Coast Guard investigation.
About one hour and 45 minutes into its dive, contact was lost with the support ship when the submersible was approximately 12,000 feet below the Atlantic’s surface. Authorities conducted a search for four days before uncovering evidence of an implosion on the ocean floor.
Among the five fatalities was Ocean Gate co-founder Stockton Rush. The other victims were Paul-Henri Narjolet, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman Dawood.
In the wake of the incident, Ocean Gate, based in Washington state, halted its operations.
