The US Coast Guard has revealed the final message from the Titan submersible, which imploded last June during an expedition to the Titanic wreck. The photograph revealed at a public hearing on Monday shows the sub’s broken tail cone resting on the ocean floor, approximately 12,500 feet deep in the Atlantic.
The hearing disclosed a chilling text exchange between the Titan’s crew and the Polar Prince, a support vessel. When asked if they could see the ship, the Titan’s crew replied with “All good here,” even as they descended deeper into perilous waters. According to Fox News, the last communication from the crew indicated they had “dropped two weights,” suggesting they were attempting to ascend when contact was lost.
US Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) said the detached tail cone and other debris provided “conclusive evidence” of a catastrophic implosion. This incident resulted in the deaths of five people onboard, including British explorer Hamish Harding, British-Pak businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, and French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
OceanGate has faced intense scrutiny regarding the design and safety of the Titan. Former engineering director Tony Nissen testified that he felt pressured to expedite the sub’s launch despite his concerns about its safety. He noted that there were significant doubts about the materials used in its construction, particularly carbon fiber and titanium. Another contractor, Tym Catterson, echoed these concerns, stating that he did not believe these materials were suitable for a pressure vessel subjected to extreme ocean conditions.
The hearing is expected to last two weeks as investigators seek to uncover what led to this tragedy and whether any misconduct or negligence occurred, according to the US news network. The Titan was on a mission to view the Titanic wreck when it lost contact with its support ship about two hours into its dive. The implosion has triggered debate about private deep-sea exploration and safety standards in such operations.
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