One year on from the Titan sub implosion, what has happened since?
The final moments of the ill-fated passengers remains a mystery.
One year on from the Titan submersible disaster, the final moments of the ill-fated passengers remains a mystery.
A frantic search operation was launched on June 18 to try and save the five voyagers in the Atlantic Ocean before their 96-hour oxygen supply ran out.
The race to find the sub gripped the world as time slowly began to run out.
Four days later the US Coast Guard confirmed the OceanGate sub had imploded shortly after beginning its descent.
It lost contact with research ship, MV Polar Prince, one hour and 45 minutes into the dive.
Sadly, CEO Stockton Rush, UK billionaire Hamish Harding, French explorer Paul Henry Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman were all confirmed dead.
Less than two weeks after the submersible went missing, debris was pulled from the ocean, and it was reported human remains were among the findings recovered.
Both Canadian and US officials confirmed they were launching investigations into the implosion as soon as the deaths were confirmed a year ago.
But what has happened since?
What has happened with the investigation?
The French and UK governments have confirmed they are assisting US and Canadian authorities, with the final report set to issued to the International Maritime Organisation.
But despite assurances the investigation will last a year, the US Coast Guard has admitted it will take longer than originally planned.
Jason Neubauer, who is the chair of the Marine Board of Investigation said: ‘The investigation into the implosion of the Titan submersible is a complex and ongoing effort.
‘We are working closely with our domestic and international partners to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident.’
A log which was alleged to be the final moments of the doomed passengers has since been proven to be faked.
The so-called transcript emerged soon after and quickly went viral as it purported to lay out the passengers’ final moments as they realised the peril they were in.
According to the log, featuring a minute-by-minute description of events on board and rich in technical detail, cracking noises could be heard and alarms blared before contact was cut off.
Now the head of the US federal investigations team looking into the disaster has said the entire thing is bogus.
Captain Jason D Neubauer told the New York Times.: ‘I’m confident it’s a false transcript. It was made up.’
The genuine communications log between the Titan and its control ship on the surface are in his team’s possession but have not been released.
Are trips still running down to the Titanic wreckage?
Promptly after the deaths were confirmed, OceanGate suspended all exploration and commercial operations.
Following the tragedy, there was widespread criticism of the unsafe nature of the sub.
Former OceanGate employee David Lochridge had previously told a colleague he was worried Mr Rush would get himself and others killed.
But almost a year later a US billionaire announced his intentions to set up his own voyages to prove it can be done safely.
Larry Connor, 74, has set up Triton Submarines which plans to take paying adventurers back to the wreckage in 2026, the Independent reports.
He told the Wall Street Journal: ‘I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way.’
Other expedition companies, like Eyos, have been quick to stress their submersibles are safe.
What happened to families of the victims?
Despite online criticism falling on the wealthy passengers of the submersible for paying to undertake the risky trip in the first place, the families of those killed are still working to find answers.
Paul-Henri Nargeolet’s daughter Sidonie said she has cried everyday since her dad’s passing.
She even has a small polystyrene cup which belonged to her dad while on the submersible and somehow survived the implosion.
Ms Nargolet told The Times: ‘Some people asked me why my dad would go down there. I too would like to ask him that question. I think his passion for the Titanic brought him there. He was an explorer.
‘Frankly, he didn’t see anything coming in the last few hours. He must have been super happy. His favourite thing was to see the Titanic. He had a very good death.’
The devastated wife and moth of Shahzada and Auleman Dawood said their deaths ‘nearly broke her’.
Christine Dawood posted a picture of a lit candle on Facebook.
She wrote: ‘As the one-year anniversary is coming closer, I’m reflecting back on a time that nearly broke me, and yet the love and support I’ve received was, and still is, so huge that I can’t feel anything but being grateful.
‘I miss them every day, every hour, every minute, they will never be replaced. With these candles, I’d like to send their light to anyone who’s open enough to receive it.
‘I’d like to thank everyone for their love and prayers. I felt them and they helped.’
The sons of Hamish Harding, who have not been named, released a statement in memory of their father through his company Active Aviation.
They said he was ‘the best father I could have asked for’.
One son said: ‘He inspired me more than anyone will ever know, taught me things I’ll never forget, and he meant everything to me. Anyone who ever met my dad will praise his humorous personality, his sheer work ethic, and his constant generosity.’
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