One of the last messages from the ill-fated Titan submersible, “All good here,” has emerged during a U.S. Coast Guard hearing probing the deadly June 2023 implosion that killed all five aboard. The two-week inquiry, beginning 15 months after the OceanGate vessel’s catastrophic dive toward the Titanic wreck, aims to uncover the causes of the tragedy and prevent future disasters.
Key Details:
- Last Communication: The Titan sub sent its final message, “Dropped two wts,” at around 3,341 meters before all contact was lost, just minutes before the implosion.
- Tragic Discovery: Four days later, debris from the submersible was found on the ocean floor, confirming the deaths of all five crew members, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.
- Equipment Concerns: The Coast Guard revealed troubling details, including the Titan’s failure to meet industry pressure-testing standards and its history of 70 unresolved equipment issues in 2021, followed by 48 more in 2022.
- Witness Testimony: Former OceanGate engineering director Tony Nissen testified he refused to pilot the sub due to concerns over crew competence and sub safety, stating, “I’m not getting in it.”
- Additional Warnings: Other witnesses shared similar concerns, with former finance director Bonnie Carl citing a conversation in which the sub was labelled “unsafe” before the voyage.
The Coast Guard hearing has exposed critical safety oversights and warnings that were allegedly ignored, adding urgency to calls for stronger safety regulations in deep-sea exploration. The findings from this investigation could reshape how such missions are conducted and regulated in the future.
