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
The Titan suffered a catastrophic “loss of structural integrity” on June 18, 2023, approximately 90 minutes into a dive to the wreck of the Titanic. All five people aboard were killed instantly.
According to the report, OceanGate repeatedly failed to follow essential protocols for the design, testing, and maintenance of the Titan. The company even used intimidation tactics to silence internal dissent. Employees and contractors were threatened with termination if they raised safety concerns.
OceanGate was also under severe financial pressure in the months leading up to the disaster. In 2023, the company asked staff to forgo salaries in exchange for promised back pay, further compromising operational integrity. Investigators concluded that financial stress contributed to decisions that increased the risk to the Titan’s hull and mission.
The design flaws outlined in the report were stark. The Titan’s viewport was rated only to depths of 650 metres, while the Titanic lies at approximately 3,800 metres. The hull’s cylindrical shape – unlike the spherical designs typically used for deep-sea vessels – combined with its carbon fibre construction, made it particularly vulnerable to extreme pressure.
Investigators identified likely failure points, including the adhesive joint between the vessel’s forward dome and its titanium section, or a potential collapse of the carbon fibrehull near the sub’s forward end.
The report paints a picture of a company that pushed boundaries without adequate safeguards, ultimately leading to one of the most publicised maritime tragedies in recent history.
