Titan sub report condemns OceanGate

The “inadequate design” of the Titan and a “toxic workplace culture” at the company operating the submersible were the primary contributing factors that led to its implosion in 2023, a damning report finds

Titanic
CANADA
New York
St. John’s
U.S.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
500km
310 miles

FLAWED DESIGN

Viewport: Rated to depth of 650m. Titanic wreck is at 3,800m

Probable failure points: Adhesive joint between vessel’s forward dome and titanium segment or, carbon fibre hull near forward end of sub

Hull: Cylindrical rather than spherical; made of carbon fibre, considered unreliable under extreme pressure

Titanium end rings

Forward dome

Jun 18, 2023: Titan suffers “loss of structural integrity” 90 minutes into dive to Titanic wreck, resulting in instantaneous death of all five people on board

Safety practices: OceanGate failed to follow protocols for safety, testing, and maintenance of sub

“Toxic work place”: Company “used threat of being fired to dissuade employees and contractors from expressing safety concerns”

Money: Financial pressures in 2023 resulted in increased risk to Titan’s hull and its operations. Employees were asked to forgo salaries with promise of back pay

TITAN
Length:
Height:
6.7m
2.8m

3,800m
Wreck of Titanic

Sources: U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, BBC, Reuter
© GRAPHIC NEWS

Objects
not to scale