The hearing, which commenced on September 16, has prompted a thorough investigation into the events leading to the June 18 incident that resulted in the loss of all five individuals aboard.
On the day of the incident, the crew maintained communication with their support vessel, the Polar Prince. In a last exchange, they communicated, “all good here,” before sending a final message indicating they had released weights in an attempt to return to the surface. Shortly thereafter, the Titan lost contact, leading to an urgent search and eventual discovery of wreckage four days later, approximately a third of a mile from the Titanic itself.
The hearing has included testimony from former OceanGate personnel, highlighting internal conflicts and safety concerns within the company. David Lochridge, the former operations director, expressed doubts about the company’s commitment to safety, stating, “The whole idea behind the company was to make money.”
At the start of the hearing, Coast Guard officials said that the Titan submersible lacked an independent safety review, a standard industry practice, raising concerns within the undersea exploration community. Following the implosion, OceanGate, based in Washington state, suspended its operations and currently has no full-time employees, though it is represented by an attorney. The company has stated it is fully cooperating with ongoing Coast Guard and NTSB investigations into the incident, with Titan having conducted dives to the Titanic since 2021.