First image of OceanGate's Titan submersible wreck released after implosion

The US Coast Guard has revealed the first image of the wreckage of OceanGate's Titan submersible, which tragically imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck in June 2023, killing all five aboard.

The photo, captured by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), shows the vessel's tail cone embedded in the seabed at a depth of 12,500 feet in the North Atlantic Ocean.

This image was presented on September 16, 2024, at a hearing in Charleston, South Carolina, as part of an investigation into the causes of the disaster.

The Coast Guard stated that the photographic evidence provided "conclusive evidence of a catastrophic loss" of the Titan and the deaths of its passengers, including renowned explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, adventurer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate, the company behind the ill-fated expedition.

The Titan lost communication with its surface support ship, the Polar Prince, on June 18, 2023, shortly after beginning its descent to the Titanic wreck.

After extensive searches, the ROV located the tail cone and other debris on June 22, 2023, confirming the submersible’s destruction.

As part of the hearing, an animated video was shown detailing the Titan's final dive.

The submersible had launched from the Polar Prince off the coast of Canada at approximately 9:20 a.m. local time. Communications between the Titan and the surface vessel continued for about 40 minutes, with the sub reporting it had temporarily "lost system and chat settings" but was otherwise fine.

At 10:47 a.m., the Titan sent its final message, stating it had "dropped two weights," a routine procedure. Moments later, the vessel lost all contact, leading to its presumed implosion.

During the hearing, Jason Neubauer, from the Coast Guard's Office of Investigations and Analysis, stated that the goal of the investigation is to uncover the causes of the tragedy and prevent future incidents of this nature.

OceanGate, which has since ceased operations, echoed this sentiment. Attorney Jane Shvets, representing the company, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the importance of the hearing in understanding the causes of the disaster.

The image of the wreckage, along with the ongoing hearing, has brought renewed attention to the incident, which captivated the world during the search and rescue efforts last year.

The hearing will also explore OceanGate's procedures in designing and building the Titan submersible, as investigators seek answers about what led to the tragic implosion.