The U.S. Coast Guard released the first image of the Titan submersible on the ocean floor following its catastrophic implosion last year, as an investigation hearing into the tragedy commenced on Monday. The hearing, set to run until September 27 in North Charleston, South Carolina, aims to uncover the details of the accident that captured the world’s attention last June.
In the photograph, the submersible’s broken tail cone rests on the hazy, blue seabed of the North Atlantic. The image shows the cone separated from the rest of the vessel, its edges jagged and damaged. Nearby, a torn fragment of the vessel is also visible. This debris was located several hundred yards from the Titanic shipwreck, where the submersible was headed.
The Titan submersible’s implosion claimed the lives of all five passengers, including Stockton Rush, founder and CEO of OceanGate, the company that operated the vessel. Also on board were businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, adventurer Hamish Harding, and French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet. DNA testing and analysis later confirmed the identity of the remains found at the scene.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) presented evidence suggesting the submersible experienced a sudden inward collapse due to immense underwater pressure. A remotely operated vehicle discovered the wreckage on June 22 of last year, just days after the vessel lost contact with its surface ship.
In the hearing’s opening presentation, the MBI shared details about the submersible’s final communication— a brief text sent just six seconds before contact was lost. The message read, “Dropped two wts,” referring to weights the submersible could release in an attempt to ascend. Moments after, the vessel was “pinged” for the last time, signaling its disappearance from the mother ship’s radar.
The investigation involves former employees of OceanGate and other experts, with the hearing addressing various aspects of the incident. The Coast Guard aims to explore “pre-accident historical events, regulatory compliance, crew member duties and qualifications, mechanical and structural systems, emergency response, and the submersible industry.”
Board Chair Jason Neubauer emphasized that while the primary focus is on uncovering facts, they are also investigating potential “misconduct or negligence” by credentialed mariners. Should any criminal activity be detected, the board would recommend further action to the Department of Justice.
The Titan’s ill-fated dive and the subsequent search and rescue mission in the remote North Atlantic waters, hundreds of miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, gripped the world. The image released by the Coast Guard serves as a stark reminder of the tragedy and the dangers inherent in deep-sea exploration.
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