The Titan submersible by OceanGate was designed to tour the Titanic wreck, but in June 2023, the submersible imploded around two hours into the dive. Five people died due to safety concerns being ignored. Little was known about the reasoning behind the implosion. Many who speculated on the internet when the implosion happened believe the reason for the deaths was the fact that the submarine was controlled by a simple video game controller.
On August 5, 2025, the US Coast Guard released its report on the loss of the submersible. The report is over 300 pages long, but it does include 17 safety recommendations that were ignored.
“This marine casualty and the loss of five lives were preventable,” said Jason Neubauer, the chairman of the Coast Guard investigation.
The two-year investigation identified many factors that led to the incident. Still, the board has determined that the primary reason for the tragedy was poor design, as carbon fiber was used to build it, and the inspection processes were flawed.
Carbon fiber is a material that is stronger than steel, but it cannot withstand the pressure of the deep sea. The fiber is strong in tension, but not in compression. The carbon fiber that was used for the submersible was faulty, with wrinkles and voids being found within the material.
The inspection process failed to recognize how the real-time monitoring system was turned on during the incident. No audible alarms were set, a feature CEO Rush reported “was totally against,” installing.
OceanGate prioritized its image over its safety. By the time the dive happened, Rush was frustrated by its delay, and it was reported by ABC said, “I’m going to get a dive in even if it kills me.”
The BBC was told that OceanGate had a toxic work environment, which led to ineffective whistleblowing and a foreign framework.
In response to a report to the Coast Guard, ABC News reported that OceanGate made a statement saying, “After the tragedy occurred, the company permanently wound down operations and directed its resources fully towards cooperating with the Coast Guard’s inquiry through its completion.”
Now the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the implosion, and its final report is expected to be released to the public in the following months. Currently, they know the submersible was improperly stored before the dive. Its equipment was placed in a parking lot for almost seven months, leaving it vulnerable to the elements of freezing temperatures and rain. The only reason this decision was made was to save money, and this reflects a pattern of constant neglect.
