The U.S. Coast Guard began its first public hearings as part of its investigations to look into what caused the Titan submersible to implode almost 15 months ago.
On June 18, 2023, five people were aboard the vessel that imploded as it descended to explore the Titanic wreckage. Four days later, debris was found near the search area, with the Coast Guard saying at the time that it was consistent with a “catastrophic implosion.”
On Sept. 16, an image of debris of the submersible as well as the crew’s final message were among the new details revealed during the hearing, according to NBC News.
The final message from the crew was: “All good here.”
As for the image, it showed the debris that was recovered from the ocean floor.
The people that were inside the Titan were CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire and owner of Action Aviation Hamish Harding, French dive expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old, son Suleman Dawood.
OceanGate, the company behind the submersible, arranged for private tours to explore the Titanic shipwreck. It was later criticized for its lack of testing and use of experimental materials.
The company has since posted on its website that it “has suspended all exploration and commercial operations.”
According to NBC News, Titan lost all contact with its support ship, Polar Prince, almost two hours into its descent to the Titanic wreckage, which is about 13,000 feet under the water’s surface.
The trip was supposed to take about two and a half hours to the site, and then another four hours to explore the sunken ship before returning. The Titan, however, did not come back at its scheduled time.
The purpose of the hearing is to uncover the facts of what happened and make recommendations for future deep sea explorations, the Coast Guard said. It will take place over the course of two weeks in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Former employees, scientists and experts will also take part in the hearings, with the cause of failure to also be examined.
NBC News reports that the Marine Board of Investigation will also “determine the extent of any negligence or misconduct, and potential criminality would be referred to the Department of Justice,” board chairman Jason Neubauer said.
Among the witnesses in the Monday, Sept. 16 hearing was former engineering director at OceanGate Tony Nissen, who NBC News reports, claimed he was “terminated” after he “wouldn’t sign off” on an expedition in after the submersible was struck by lighting and compromised its experimental carbon fiber hull.
Nissen also said Rush had asked him to be a pilot on the Titanic missions, which he refused.