Titanic Sub Search: US Coast Guard to Lead Investigation as ‘Priority’ Turns to Recovery From Sea Floor

Teams from the US, Canada, France, UK will take precautions in case they encounter human remains

Crews work on Coast Guard vessels at Coast Guard Base Boston in Boston on June 21, 2023. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Coast Guard will lead an international effort to investigate the Titanic submersible implosion, working in close coordination with other national and international authorities, including the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, French Marine Casualties Investigation Board, and the United Kingdom Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Recovery of the doomed vessel, which was carrying five now-deceased passengers—has begun, with the Coast Guard saying that “all precautions” will be taken in case any “human remains” are discovered at the wreckage site.

The United States has convened a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) into the loss of the Titan submersible, “the highest level of investigation in the Coast Guard,” according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s statement.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Captain Jason Neubauer, chief investigator with the U.S. Coast Guard, said the “priority of the investigation is to recover items from the sea floor.”

“I’m not getting into the details of the recovery operations, but we are taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains,” he added.

“We have already mapped the accident site in the field, so the other factors would be part of the investigation.”

The MBI will focus on determining what caused the submarine implosion and “whether an act of misconduct, incompetence, negligence, unskillfulness, or willful violation of law” contributed to any deaths involved in the casualty.

Another focus of the investigation is to determine whether a criminal act has been committed so that the matter “may be referred to appropriate authorities for prosecution,” according to the Coast Guard.

‘Canadian-Flagged Vessel’

The massive international effort by aircraft, surface ships, and deep-sea robots began on June 18 when the Titan was first reported missing. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the crew of the Polar Prince support ship lost contact with the submersible 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive.

The Titan submersible, operated by OceanGate Expeditions to explore the wreckage of the sunken Titanic off the coast of Newfoundland, dives in an undated photograph. OceanGate Expeditions/Handout via Reuters

Searchers raced against a 96-hour clock to find and rescue the vessel’s occupants before their oxygen supply was estimated to run out. But all hope was extinguished on June 22 when officials announced the submersible had suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” killing all five aboard.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed on June 22 that the wreckage of the Titan submersible was found on the ocean floor, approximately 500 meters off the bow of the Titanic.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has sent its investigators to St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Labrador, to gather information, conduct interviews, and assess the occurrence of the submersible implosion.

“We are conducting a safety investigation in Canada given that this was a Canadian-flagged vessel that departed a Canadian port and was involved in this occurrence, albeit in international waters,” said Kathy Fox, chair of the transportation board.

The Titan launch barge is moved to the Coast Guard yard at port in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, on June 24, 2023. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP

Meanwhile, Pelagic Research Services (PRS) said on Sunday that its Odysseus 6K—a 6,000-meter-depth rated ROV (remotely operated vehicle) system—was “on the seafloor on its fourth dive” since arriving at the Titan rescue site.

PRS said that its Odysseus 6K was the first to locate the debris field referenced by the U.S. Coast Guard on June 22, while its subsequent dives have supported the probe and rescue mission.

Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst, and author based in Virginia, said there has been no comparable ocean investigation as this rescue turned recovery effort, especially given the involvement of so many nations and commercial enterprises.

Turboprop P-3 Orion and jet-powered P-8 Poseidon sub hunters, along with C-130 Hercules, were all utilized in the search. Experts said the cost of the unprecedented search for the missing Titan submersible will easily stretch into the millions of dollars.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.