The US Coast Guard has investigated the cause of the underwater implosion that destroyed the small submersible Titan, leading to the tragic loss of all five individuals on board during a dive into the Titanic wreck.
In response to this incident that garnered global attention in the North Atlantic, the Coast Guard has established a marine board of investigation (MBI), representing its highest level of inquiry.
The Coast Guard’s chief investigator and leader of the probe stated, “My primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide.” He added that the MBI had entered its initial evidence-collection phase, including salvage operations to retrieve debris from the incident site.
Neubauer mentioned that the US investigation may also involve recommendations for potential civil or criminal sanctions, as deemed necessary.
The submersible Titan was reported missing last Sunday. On Thursday, the Coast Guard confirmed the tragic news of the demise of all five individuals aboard after the vessel experienced a catastrophic implosion.
Read: Titanic Expedition Ends in Tragedy: 5 Lost in Submersible Accident
A debris field was discovered on the seafloor, approximately 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, resting more than two miles (nearly four kilometers) beneath the ocean’s surface and 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Canada, which participated in the search for the submersible, has announced its investigation into the incident.
The Canadian-flagged Polar Prince cargo vessel had towed the Titan out to sea the previous weekend but lost contact with it about an hour and 45 minutes after the submersible embarked on its descent into the ocean depths.
With the announcement of the implosion, a multinational search-and-rescue operation that captured worldwide attention since the tourist craft went missing has come to a close.
