The latest progress has arrived, but it has not been certified by a third-party organization! A comprehensive investigation may take up to 2 years. Titan crew | submersible | organization
The US deep-sea submersible Titan was confirmed to have disintegrated underwater on the 22nd, resulting in the death of all five crew members. At present, the Polar Prince research ship responsible for transporting the Titan submersible has returned to Canadian ports, and the Transport Safety Agency of Canada and other departments have begun investigating the accident.
Multiple Canadian institutions are conducting investigations into the Titan accident
The Canadian Transportation Safety Bureau held a press conference on the 24th and stated that the Canadian-flagged "Polar Prince" scientific research ship returned to the Port of St. John on the same day. Investigators have boarded the ship and began to visit the people on board. A comprehensive investigation may take 18 months. Two years. However, the Canadian Transportation Safety Agency will only investigate the cause of the accident, will not assign responsibility for the accident, and will not make any civil or criminal liability determinations.
On the 24th, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police stated that they have not yet found any suspicion of criminal activity in the Titan accident, but they have established an investigation team to evaluate whether it is necessary to conduct a criminal investigation into the accident. In addition, the National Transportation Safety Commission and the US Coast Guard have also stated that they will investigate the Titan accident.
Experts have pointed out that the investigation into this accident may be very complex, as the headquarters of the "Ocean Gate" company operating the "Titan" is located in Washington State, USA, but the "Titan" is not registered with US and international regulatory agencies. The Titan crash occurred on the high seas and is not under the jurisdiction of countries such as the United States or Canada.
The Titan deep-sea submersible has numerous tragic problems and hidden dangers, which may have already been buried
Since the beginning of this week, the news of the American Titan deep-sea submersible has touched the hearts of many people. What kind of company is the "Ocean Gate" that organized this inspection activity? What safety hazards may have been "overlooked" before the tragedy occurred?
Ocean Gate was founded in 2009 and is located in Washington State, USA. Its business includes providing deep-sea exploration and research services. Currently, the company has conducted over 14 explorations and over 200 diving activities in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico. One of the company's main businesses is the design, manufacturing, and operation of manned submersibles, including the Titan and Cyclops series of submersibles. A submersible is an active diving device with underwater observation and operational capabilities. Compared with submarines, submarines must rely on the mother ship to replenish energy and air. They have a smaller volume, shorter range, and cannot travel independently in the sea, nor do they have the same crew living facilities as submarines.
According to data from Ocean Gate, the Titan submersible is approximately 6.5 meters long, weighs approximately 9000 kilograms, and can dive up to 4000 meters deep. It has an aviation standard 13 centimeter thick carbon fiber hull and is reinforced with two domed titanium alloy end caps. Industry insiders have pointed out that compared to conventional deep diving equipment that uses steel or titanium materials to withstand pressure, the carbon fiber structure used by the Titan is a material that has not been tested for a long time. Although its maximum operating depth is designed to be 4000 meters, the consequences of failure of the pressure bearing structure will be catastrophic.
James Cameron, the director of the movie Titanic, has visited the wreckage of the Titanic 33 times and claimed to have also designed and built submersibles. In a recent media interview, he also expressed concerns about the carbon fiber technology used by the Titan.
It is reported that the Titan began its trial voyage in 2018, and the inspection service to the location of the wreckage of the Titanic was launched by the company in 2021, lasting for 8 days. The cost is $250000 per person, approximately RMB 1.79 million. Passengers must be at least 17 years old and do not need to have diving experience. In 2022, 28 people aboard the Titan visited the wreckage of the Titanic, and this accident marks the maiden voyage of this year. Experts point out that most submarines operating manned sightseeing activities only explore natural landscapes such as underwater coral reefs within 500 meters, while the wreckage of the Titanic is located more than 3800 meters underwater. Currently, about 10 deep submersibles worldwide are designed to reach this depth, and only the Titan has not been certified by third-party organizations such as the United States Marine Administration and European DNV. Experts also point out that unlike other vessels, private submersibles are generally not subject to any regulation, especially when operating in international waters.
