OceanGate Expeditions has announced the suspension of all exploration and commercial operations following the presumed implosion of its Titan submersible during a dive to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. This incident resulted in the tragic loss of the company’s founder and four other individuals.
The company, headquartered in Everett, Wash., made this announcement prominently on its website, accompanied by footage of previous Titanic explorations and a link to learn more about exploring the world’s most famous shipwreck.
The exact date of the message’s addition to the website remains unclear. OceanGate has not provided any further details and has yet to respond to inquiries via email.
The lost submersible carried Stockton Rush, 61, the founder and CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, who was piloting the vessel, along with Hamish Harding, 58, a British businessman and explorer, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, a French maritime expert, Shahzada Dawood, 48, a British Pakistani businessman, and his son, Suleman, 19.
Their mission was to explore the remains of the Titanic, located 12,500 feet below the surface of the sea. However, less than two hours into the dive, the submersible lost contact with a Canadian expedition ship on the surface, approximately 400 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Several days later, debris from the submersible was discovered on the ocean floor. The recovery of this debris, including the Titan’s tail cone and other fragments, indicated a catastrophic implosion with no survivors, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. On June 28, following an international search-and-rescue operation, the Coast Guard confirmed the retrieval of debris and presumed human remains from the submersible.
To investigate the incident, the Coast Guard has initiated a marine board of investigation, which represents its highest level of inquiry. This board is collaborating closely with national and international agencies involved in the response, including authorities from Canada, Britain, and France.
2023-07-06 13:58:48
Original from www.nytimes.com
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