Report Blames OceanGate, Urges Sub Regulation

The US Coast Guard's final report on the June 2023 Titan submersible disaster found the implosion was preventable, blaming OceanGate's failure to follow engineering, safety, testing, and maintenance protocols. Investigators cited critically flawed safety procedures, inadequate design and certification, and a toxic workplace culture that suppressed employee concerns through threats of termination or legal action. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who died with four others, was singled out for negligence and for creating a false sense of security; authorities said a criminal investigation would have been considered had he survived. The report noted OceanGate exploited regulatory loopholes and confusion to avoid oversight. Financial pressures and ineffective whistleblower protections further compromised safety decisions. The findings have intensified calls for stronger, clearer regulation of private and novel deep-sea expeditions.