PORTLAND, Maine — A U.S. Coast Guard report released Tuesday concluded that the Titan submersible disaster, which resulted in the deaths of five people, was preventable. The report highlighted significant safety failures and deliberate attempts to evade oversight by OceanGate, the private company that owned the Titan. The submersible imploded while descending to the Titanic wreck site off the coast of Canada in June 2023, prompting a massive search operation that captured global attention.

The Coast Guard's investigation was its highest level, initiated after the catastrophic event. Among the deceased was Stockton Rush, the head of OceanGate, who was piloting the submersible. The report criticized the company's safety protocols, describing them as “critically flawed” and noting a stark contrast between their stated safety measures and actual practices.

Jason Neubauer, a member of the Marine Board of Investigation, emphasized the need for improved oversight in the industry. "There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework," he stated. The Titan disaster has sparked lawsuits and calls for stricter regulations in the burgeoning private deep-sea tourism sector.

Investigators found that the design, certification, maintenance, and inspection processes for the Titan were inadequate. The report also pointed to a “toxic workplace culture” at OceanGate, which discouraged employees from voicing safety concerns. Many former employees have corroborated these claims, stating that they faced intimidation and threats of termination for raising issues.

The report detailed how OceanGate ignored numerous safety warnings and created a culture that prioritized reputation over safety. It noted that the company operated outside established deep-sea protocols by exploiting regulatory ambiguities. The investigation faced challenges, including the inability to access significant video evidence from witnesses who were not U.S. citizens.

In addition to Rush, the victims included French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British adventurer Hamish Harding, and two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. The family of Nargeolet has filed a lawsuit against OceanGate, alleging gross negligence and claiming that the crew experienced “terror and mental anguish” before the disaster.

The Titan had been making dives to the Titanic site since 2021. Its final dive occurred on June 18, 2023, when it lost contact with its support vessel about two hours into the descent. The submersible was reported overdue later that day, leading to a search operation that involved ships and aircraft. The wreckage was eventually located on the ocean floor, approximately 330 yards from the Titanic's bow.

The Marine Board of Investigation held hearings in October 2024, where a lead engineer expressed feeling pressured to prepare the Titan for dives. He recounted a previous refusal to pilot the vessel, stating, "I’m not getting in it." OceanGate suspended its operations in July 2023 and has stated it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.