The Titanic has long captured the fascination of explorers and enthusiasts, with its tragic history and deep-sea resting place. However, a recent attempt to explore the Titanic's wreckage ended in catastrophe.
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Titanic search became a disaster
On June 18, 2023, the Titan, a submersible operated by OceanGate, an American tourism company, experienced a devastating implosion during its descent in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 400 nautical miles (740 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
The Titan, carrying five people, was part of a tourist expedition specifically designed to observe the wreck of the Titanic. Tragically, communication with the submersible was lost 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive, and it failed to resurface at the scheduled time later that day. Authorities were immediately alerted, and a search operation was launched.
ABC News reports that the international search andrescue operation was led by the United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, and Canadian Coast Guard. Support was provided by aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Air National Guard, a Royal Canadian Navy ship, as well as several commercial and research vessels and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). The urgency of the search was highlighted by information from the vessel's operator, OceanGate Expeditions, which said that Titan had a 96-hour oxygen supply in case of emergencies.
After an exhaustive search lasting nearly 80 hours, a debris field containing parts of the Titan was discovered approximately 500 meters (1,600 ft) from the bow of the Titanic. The search area was determined based on the U.S. Navy's sonar detection of an acoustic signature consistent with an implosion around the time communication was lost. This suggested that the pressure vessel of the Titan had imploded during its descent, resulting in the instantaneous death of all five occupants aboard.
Haunting video shows what really happened
In a chilling video that has captured global attention, the fate of the Titan submersible has been revealed. The catastrophic implosion, as confirmed by the US Coast Guard, sheds light on the harrowing final moments of the submersible and its occupants.
According to Eric Fusil, an associate professor and director of the Shipbuilding Hub at the University of Adelaide in Australia, even though the Titan had a composite hull equipped with built-in sensors designed to endure extreme pressures at the ocean floor, any flaw or imperfection could lead to an implosion occurring almost instantaneously, taking less than 40 milliseconds. He said: 'The passengers probably would have had no idea what happened.'
According to En.as.com, the video, which has already flooded social networks and garnered millions of views, shows a simulation of what would have happened to the Titan submersible and how it would have occurred in 40 milliseconds.
As per Sky News, maritime scientists described the implosion as 'the most catastrophic result' among all the potential situations anticipated during the intense and continuous search efforts to locate the lost ship.
In 1963, a tragic event reminiscent of this occurred involving the USS Thresher, a nuclear-powered submarine. It is believed that the submarine imploded when it surpassed its designated 'test depth' following a series of preceding failures, as per CNN. This devastating incident took place during a routine test dive near Cape Cod and resulted in the loss of 129 sailors and civilians who were on board.
Safety concerns ignored by OceanGate
Prior to the tragic incident, concerns had been raised about the safety of the Titan submarine. OceanGate executives chose not to seek certification for the vessel, arguing that excessive safety protocols hindered innovation.
OceanGate, a private company founded in 2009 by Stockton Rush and Guillermo Söhnlein, had been offering tourist submarine expeditions since 2010 in various locations, including off the coast of California, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Titan had previously conducted multiple dives to the Titanic in 2021 and 2022, each time carrying a pilot, a guide, and three paying passengers, reports The Insider.
Various individuals had expressed reservations about the safety of the Titan. OceanGate's director of marine operations, David Lochridge, had raised safety concerns in a report and recommended having the submersible assessed and certified by an agency. However, OceanGate decided against seeking certification, citing cost considerations. In 2018, Lochridge filed a lawsuit against OceanGate, alleging wrongful termination as a whistleblower. The legal dispute was eventually settled.
Read more:
⋙ The real reason why no human remains have ever been found on the Titanic shipwreck
Sources:
BBC: Titan sub implosion: What we know about catastrophic event
The Guardian: Missing Titanic submersible: what is the Titan tourist sub and what might have happened to it?
