OceanGate Submersible Implosion Findings: “preventable”

The US Coast Guard released its report yesterday on the 2023 OceanGate submersible implosion, concluding the disaster was preventable and directly caused by the company’s disregard for safety protocols. The Titan submersible imploded in the Atlantic Ocean during a paid trip to explore the Titanic wreck, killing all five passengers on board.

The 335-page report identifies eight primary engineering failures and four contributing factors, finding that OceanGate’s leadership dismissed safety concerns, failed to properly test and certify the vessel, and intimidated employees who raised alarms—including by filing a SLAPP lawsuit against a whistleblower. The company operated Titan outside accepted deep-sea safety standards and exploited regulatory loopholes, neglecting independent certification and adequate life-cycle safety checks. Cost-cutting measures also likely compromised safety, such as storing Titan outdoors in the Canadian winter and using only four bolts to secure the forward dome instead of the required 18. See design choices here.

The report is separate from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, which is expected to release its findings later this year.