Authorities from the US and Canada have commenced their investigation into the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible, which claimed the lives of all five individuals on board. While a formal inquiry is yet to be initiated. Maritime agencies are currently occupied with the search operation in the area where the vessel was destroyed, according to a statement by the U.S. Coast Guard on Friday. Debris from the incident was discovered approximately 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) below the surface. A few hundred feet away from the iconic Titanic wreckage that the submersible was en route to explore.
The initial search and rescue mission, spearheaded by the U.S. Coast Guard, involved an extensive international effort. That is estimated to have cost millions of dollars.
Determining the responsible party for investigating the cause of the tragedy has become a matter of concern. OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the ill-fated Titan, is headquartered in the US. But the submersible itself was registered in the Bahamas. OceanGate, based in Everett, Washington, has temporarily closed following the incident. Complicating matters further, the Titan’s support vessel, the Polar Prince, hailed from Canada, while the victims hailed from England, Pakistan, France, and the US.
U.S. Coast Guard Designated as Lead Agency
On Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that the U.S. Coast Guard has categorized the implosion of the Titan submersible as a “major marine casualty.” Designating the Coast Guard as the lead agency in the investigation. Peter Knudson, the spokesperson for the NTSB, confirmed that the Coast Guard relayed this information to the NTSB’s senior management, and the NTSB has subsequently joined the investigation.
While the Coast Guard has yet to officially confirm its leadership role, Coast Guard headquarters stated that the Coast Guard First District in Boston will hold discussions on future operations and plans. However, no specific timeline was provided. Requests for comment directed towards the First District went unanswered as of Friday.
Concurrently, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced on Friday that it has initiated an investigation into the Polar Prince, the mother ship involved in the Titan’s journey. At the time of the incident, the ship accommodated seventeen crew members and an additional 24 individuals.
Given the challenging nature of deep-sea investigations, the ongoing efforts are expected to be arduous and time-consuming. Unravelling the mysteries concealed within the ocean’s depths demands meticulous scrutiny and perseverance.
