A new report from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation has concluded that the catastrophic implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible was “preventable” and directly attributable to the company’s CEO, Stockton Rush, and a “toxic safety culture.” The report, released Tuesday, comes more than two years after the June 2023 disaster that killed five people, including Rush.
The 335-page document is highly critical of Rush, accusing him of creating a “false sense of safety” by misrepresenting the submersible’s capabilities and exaggerating testing procedures. The investigation found that Rush repeatedly ignored warnings about the vessel’s dangers and threatened those who raised concerns with lawsuits or termination.
“A false sense of safety and security was created by Mr. Rush through his misrepresentation of the TITAN’s safety,” the report stated, adding that he “falsely claim[ed] substantial safety margins, mislead[ing] mission specialists regarding testing procedures, and exaggerating the number of hull test dives.”
Had Rush survived, the investigative team would have recommended manslaughter charges to the Department of Justice, according to the report.
Jason Neubauer, the MBI chair, said in a statement, “This marine casualty and the loss of five lives was preventable. The two-year investigation has identified multiple contributing factors that led to this tragedy, providing valuable lessons learned to prevent a future occurrence.”
The report found that the submersible imploded due to a “loss of structural integrity of the Titan pressure vessel.” Key contributing factors included an “inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process,” over-reliance on a real-time monitoring system, and the continuous use of the vessel even after its integrity had been compromised by previous incidents.
The investigation also highlighted significant flaws in the company’s operational practices, noting that its dive safety manual was only four pages long—a “substantial shortfall.” Investigators also found that the submersible was improperly stored for seven months in a parking lot, exposed to the elements, which was detrimental to its carbon fiber composite pressure hull.
The report’s key recommendation is to establish a new regulatory framework for innovative watercraft and submersibles to ensure proper oversight and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The victims of the implosion were Stockton Rush; French explorer Paul Henri Nargeolet; British businessman Hamish Harding; and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman. OceanGate has since suspended all operations.
The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a separate, ongoing investigation into the implosion, with a final report expected in the coming months.
