OceanGate used ‘intimidation tactics’ to bypass regulation, US Coast Guard says

ISTANBUL

The US Coast Guard on Tuesday revealed that OceanGate used “intimidation tactics” to avoid regulatory oversight prior to the Titan submersible disaster.

OceanGate’s Titan submersible catastrophically imploded on a June 18, 2023 dive to the Titanic wreck — killing all five aboard.

"This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable," Jason Neubauer, who led the Coast Guard's investigation into the incident, said in a statement.

In a 300-page report, the US Coast Guard said that the company "leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favorable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny."

The report cited multiple causes of the Titan sub’s implosion, noting its “design and testing processes for TITAN did not adequately address many of the fundamental engineering principles” needed for safe operation in a high-risk environment.

Much of the blame was placed on CEO Stockton Rush, who died in the disaster, with the report saying he “exhibited negligence that contributed to the deaths of four individuals.”

The report found OceanGate ignored safety protocols amid financial pressure and a “toxic workplace environment,” using firings and the “looming threat” of dismissal to silence staff and contractors who raised safety concerns.