Coast Guard Releases New Report About 2023 OceanGate Submersible Disaster

The US Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation issued a new report that says that OceanGate's CEO was responsible for 2023's deadly Titan submersible implosion — and that the agency would have recommended he be charged with manslaughter if he'd survived the disaster.

The incident left five people dead, including CEO and co-founder Stockton Rush. According to the 335-page report, which arrived over two years after the June 2023 incident, Rush was cautioned about the mission's danger but disregarded the warnings and intimidated anyone who vocalized concern.

"A false sense of safety and security was created by Mr. Rush through his misrepresentation of the TITAN's safety, achieved by falsely claiming substantial safety margins, misleading mission specialists regarding testing procedures, and exaggerating the number of hull test dives for the final TITAN hull," the report said.

If Rush had survived the deep-sea voyage to the Titanic wreckage, the Coast Guard’s investigative team would have advised the Department of Justice to charge him with manslaughter.

"This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable," Jason Neubauer, Titan MBI chair, said in a statement about the report's release, per Good Morning America.

"The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence. There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework."

Alongside Rush, four others died: French explorer and Titanic expert Paul Henri Nargeolet, British businessman Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman.

Since the disaster, OceanGate has postponed its exploration and commercial operations. The company responded to the Coast Guard’s report in a statement, per GMA.

"We again offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who died on June 18, 2023, and to all those impacted by the tragedy. After the tragedy occurred, the company permanently wound down operations and directed its resources fully towards cooperating with the Coast Guard's inquiry through its completion."

The Titan submersible was first reported as missing on June 18, 2023. The submarine lost contact with the Coast Guard around one hour and 45 minutes into its journey to the Titanic shipwreck site at the Atlantic Ocean's seabed, 3,800 meters below sea level. A search and rescue operation was subsequently launched.

OceanGate charged $250,000 for each seat on the voyage. The Titan held five people and could typically complete dives with four days' worth of oxygen.