The United States Navy has suspended the use of the Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System in the recovery of the Titan submersible, which imploded while on its way to tour the wreckage of the Titanic. All five people on board the Titan died, and debris was found approximately 12,500 feet underwater near the Titanic site in North Atlantic waters. The Navy had deployed the Flyaway equipment specifically for this mission, which had the capability to lift an intact Titan back to the surface. However, it will no longer be used since officials did not find wreckage large enough to warrant its use.
Instead, the focus of the recovery effort has shifted towards mapping the debris field and supporting investigative actions undertaken by the United States Coast Guard who discovered the debris. The Navy describes Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System as a portable and reliable deep ocean lifting unit that can lift up to 60,000 pounds of bulky and sunken objects such as small vessels and aircraft. However, due to the requirements of this mission, the Titan’s weight of 20,000 pounds was within the range of what more traditional salvage equipment could handle.
As investigations into the cause of the submersible’s demise continue, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it has launched its investigation into submersible’s loss and is speaking to those who traveled on Titan’s mothership, the Polar Prince. The Navy continues to assist in the recovery effort led by the Coast Guard.
Investigation Begins into Deadly Submarine Accident
The loss of the Titan submersible, which imploded on its way back from a deep-sea dive earlier this month killing all crew members, has sparked a major marine casualty investigation. The crew, hailing from England, Pakistan, France, and the U.S., were aboard the submersible owned by OceanGate Expeditions; a U.S.-based company that had registered the vessel in the Bahamas.
It remains unclear who will lead the inquiry of the technologically complex wreck that spans several countries. The National Transportation Safety Board has stated that the U.S. Coast Guard will be running the show, but an official confirmation from Coast Guard is still pending.
While we wait for clarity on that issue, it is clear that deep sea exploration lacks regulation, adding a layer of complexity to this investigation. Moreover, the fact that the Titan was not registered with international safety organizations or classified by a maritime industry group has also raised concern.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was piloting the submersible at the time of the accident, has argued that regulations can hinder progress. Regardless of his view, answers need to be unearthed in order to prevent such disasters happening again in the future.
The Tragic Implosion of The Titan
One question that seems to have some semblance of an answer is when the implosion occurred. Following The Titan’s disappearance, the Navy analyzed its acoustic data and discovered an “anomaly” on Sunday, consistent with an explosion or implosion in the general area where the submarine was located at the time of lost communication, according to a senior U.S. Navy official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the acoustic detection system.
Although the data was not considered conclusive, the Navy provided it to the Coast Guard, which carried on with its search efforts. The Titan was launched at 8 a.m. and reported overdue later that afternoon, around 435 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Emergency response teams quickly assembled ships, aircraft, and other equipment to comb the area.
Sadly, any lingering hope of finding the crew members alive vanished early on Thursday when debris was discovered near The Titan. Tragically, among those who perished as a result of the implosion were Rush, two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Former employees and passengers previously raised concerns about The Titan’s safety, adding to the ongoing speculation surrounding the incident.
