Titanic sub latest: Details about design of submarine may reveal how it imploded as human remains found

The innovative design of the Titan submersible may have led to its downfall, experts have said.

The elongated design of the sub combined with the repeated stress the hull faced over the years could have contributed to the implosion that occurred on Sunday, 18 June.

Each time OceanGate Expeditions’ sub went for a dive, the five-inch thick hull could have developed tiny cracks.

“This might be small and undetectable to start but would soon become critical and produce rapid and uncontrollable growth,” Jasper Graham-Jones, an associate professor at the University of Plymouth told Associated Press.

Five people were killed in the sub, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French diving expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood.

The analysis of the submersible’s structure comes after the US Coast Guard announced “presumed human remains” were discovered in the wreck of the Titan submarine.

The remains will be brought back to the US and analysed as part of the wider international investigation into what went wrong during the catastrophic voyage to the Titanic shipwreck earlier this month.

Key points

• First photos of Titan wreckage released

• US Coast Guard recovers ‘presumed human remains’ from sea floor near Titanic sub debris

• Hamish Harding’s friend reveals race to get ROV to site of doomed sub

• Mother of teenager killed in Titanic sub implosion gave up spot for ‘excited’ son

• Why we are obsessed with the missing Titan submarine, according to experts

Teen who died on Titanic sub brought Rubik’s cube with him to break world record

04:00 , Ariana Baio

The teenager who died on the Titan submersible took a Rubik’s cube with him because he wanted to break a world record, his mother has said.

Christine Dawood told the BBC her son Suleman, 19, was “so excited” to try and solve the puzzle 3,700 metres below the ocean surface.

Meanwhile, his father Shahzada, a businessman, was “so excited he was like a child” at the prospect of seeing the Titanic wreckage.

He had applied to Guinness World Records and his father, who also died, had brought a camera with him to capture the moment.

Ms Dawood said her son loved the famous square puzzle so much that he carried it with him everywhere and dazzled onlookers by solving it in 12 just seconds.

Who was Stockton Rush?

00:00 , Ariana Baio

Stockton Rush, 61, chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions, told Sky News earlier this year the Titanic was “an amazingly beautiful wreck”.

His company, which provides crewed submersible services for researchers and explorers to travel deep into the ocean, operated the doomed Titan submersible.

Mr Rush began his career as a pilot at 19 after qualifying from the United Airlines Jet Training Institute. He was the youngest jet transport-rated pilot in the world.

According to Mr Rush’s biography on his company’s website, he graduated from Princeton University with a BSE in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1984.

He then joined the McDonnell Douglas Corporation as a flight test engineer, and spent two years at Edwards Air Force Base.

He served on the Museum of Flight’s Board of Trustees, the board of enterprise software company Entomo and as chairman of Remote Control Technology.

In 2012, Mr Rush also founded the non-profit OceanGate Foundation while sitting on the board of BlueView Technologies, a manufacturer of high-frequency sonar systems.

Wreckage of sub may reveal cracks signifying cause of implosion, expert says

22:00 , Ariana Baio

Investigators examining the recovered wreckage of the doomed Titan submarine will likely look for cracks which could signify what caused it to implode, a professor in mechanical and marine engineering has suggested.

Dr Jasper Graham-Jones, of the University of Plymouth, told The Sun that an electrical disaster may have occurred after parts of the vessel began to leak.

“This could have been an electrical catastrophe. It could have been corrosion, it could have been a fire. Any leakage of water coming through to the electrics could lead to failure as well,” he told the paper.

He added: “Some of the pipes and parts that lead outside could have begun to leak. If you have a wire going outside, then those wires going through land could actually start to leak. They could have corroded.”

While the passengers may have been aware of a very minor leak, the noise reportedly picked up by US military equipment indicates a more sudden implosion, he said.

“The crack could be brittle, or ductile, and related to fatigue and de-lamination. By scanning under an electron microscope, you can see the fatigue and confirm the speed and direction of the cracks,” he told the paper.

Titanic to ‘return to Netflix’ on 1 July

20:00 , Andrea Blanco

The 1997 blockbusterTitanic will return to Netflix in July - just weeks after a doomed expedition to the ocean liner’s resting place on the oceanfloor.

The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is returning to the streaming platform on 1 July, according to HuffPost, along nearly 100 other titles.

The Independent could not independently confirm this report, and has contacted Netflix for comment.

It is unclear whether the decision to add Titanic was made before or after the Titan submersible tragedy this week but some on social media suggested Netflix “could’ve picked a better time” and suggested that the company was seizing on the tragedy to increase viewing figures.

Others said the streaming service could be merely responding to demands from viewers.

Widow who lost husband and son to Titanic sub implosion pays tribute to 'best friends'

18:00 , Ariana Baio

The widow of a Pakistani tycoon who lost both her husband and son after their submersible imploded in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean has opened up about her grief.

Speaking at a televised memorial on Tuesday, Christine Dawood, whose husband Shahzada Dawood and 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood were among the victims, said the expedition to the Titanic meant the world for father and son, who she described as true explorers who bonded over their love for adventure.

“These two best friends embarked upon this last voyage, their final journey together,” Ms Dawood told Sky News through tears. “These past few days have been incredibly challenging as a family ... Emotions from excitement to shock to hope and finally despair and grief.”

Andrea Blanco reports:

Widow who lost husband and son to Titanic tragedy pays tribute to ‘best friends’

Most dives by the Titan sub were aborted, report says

16:10 , Andrea Blanco

The company that operated the doomed submersible which imploded in the Atlantic promised fee-paying passengers exceptional views of the Titanic’s wreck for $250,000.

But according to an in-depth report by The New York Times published on Sunday, most of the 12,000-ft dives by the Titan did not end with up-close views of the world’s most famous shipwreck.

The Times reported that more missions were aborted than accomplished.

OceanGate began taking customers on dives to the Titanic in 2021, with its late CEO Stockton Rush styling the company as an innovative intersection between research and tourism that looked to push the limits of safety.

But in the aftermath of the tragedy, which killed all five passengers including Mr Rush, several people shared experiences of their Titan dives.

Business owner Bill Price told the Times that on a 2021 dive, the sub lost its propulsion system during the descent. Although Mr Rush immediately aborted the trip, he reportedly couldn’t get a “drop-weight mechanism” to release ballast for the emergency ascent.

Everyone aboard the sub then began shifting sides, using their weight to rock the vessel until the ballast dislodged.

“After several rolls, we got momentum going,” Mr Price told the Times. “Then, we heard a clunk, and we all collectively knew one had dropped off. So we continued to do that, until the weights were all out.”

The next day, the Titan made another dive.

Head of key Titanic sub recovery team dodges question about OceanGate

16:00 , Ariana Baio

Since the Titan submersible imploded, killing five people aboard, the subject of extreme tourism has been highly debated online and by professionals.

But when the CEO of Pelagic Research Services, the company that helped oversee the recovery mission of the submersible, was asked what his thoughts were on the trips OceanGate took to the Titanic, he claimed he did not have a strong opinion.

“I don’t necessarily have an opinion on that, it’s a strong investigation going on right now,” Edward Cassano said in a press conference on Friday.

The Independent reports:

Head of key Titanic sub recovery team dodges question about OceanGate

Why we are obsessed with the missing Titan submarine, according to experts

14:00 , Ariana Baio

The search for the missing Titan submersible fully captured the world’s attention, from reports of mysterious “banging” noises to estimates of how much oxygen may have been left in the underwater vessel.

The search for the submersible captured the attention of millions, as phrases such as “Titan” and hashtags like #OceanGate dominated Twitter’s top trending and TikTok For You Pages. According to Dr Justin D’Arienzo – a clinical psychologist in Jacksonville, Florida and former US Navy psychologist – the reason the public has been so invested is down to our desire to relate to others that sustains our obsession.

“We all can relate to that feeling of being trapped somewhere or being in the water or experiencing that level of uncertainty,” he tells The Independent. “What makes it so relatable is that we all could imagine being helpless with other humans and not know what to do.”

Meredith Clark reports:

Why we are obsessed with the missing Titan submarine, according to experts

Who was Suleman Dawood?

11:00 , Ariana Baio

Suleman Dawood, 19, was a student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.

Suelman was aboard the Titan submersible with his father, Shahzada Dawood, when it imploded on Sunday, 18 June.

Suleman was a fan of science fiction literature, according to a statement from the Dawood family.

Christine Dawood, Suleman’s mother, said the expedition to the Titanic meant the world to Shahzada and Suleman, who she described as true explorers who bonded over their love for adventure.

“These two best friends embarked upon this last voyage, their final journey together.”

Who was Shahzada Dawood?

07:00 , Ariana Baio

Shahzada Dawood, 48, was vice-chairman of one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates, Engro Corporation, with investments in fertilisers, vehicle manufacturing, energy and digital technologies.

Mr Dawood was aboard the Titan submersible with his 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood, when it imploded on Sunday 18, June.

Mr Dawood was interested in wildlife photography, gardening and exploring natural habitats.

Mr Dawood’s wife, Christine Dawood, said the expedition to the Titanic meant the world for Shahzada and Suleman, who she described as true explorers who bonded over their love for adventure.

“These two best friends embarked upon this last voyage, their final journey together.”

Watch: Titan submersible wreckage brought ashore after fatal implosion

04:00 , Ariana Baio

Who was Paul-Henri Nargeolet?

02:00 , Ariana Baio

French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, was director of underwater research at a company that owns the rights to the Titanic wreck and recovers artifacts.

A former commander in the French navy, he was both a deep diver and a mine-sweeper. After retiring from the navy, he led the first recovery expedition to the Titanic in 1987 and several more, becoming a leading authority on the wreck site.

OceanGate described Mr Nargeolet as the “Titanic’s greatest explorer”.

The former naval officer was born in Chamonix, France, but spent his early years in Africa with his parents. He was married to American newsreader Michelle Marsh until she died in 2017.

He completed 35 dives in the submersible. In a 2020 interview, he spoke of the dangers of deep diving, saying: “I am not afraid to die, I think it will happen one day.”

How much did the Titan submersible search cost?

Saturday 1 July 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

The cost of the unprecedented search for the missing Titan submersible will easily stretch into the millions of dollars, experts said Friday.

There’s no other comparable ocean search, especially with so many countries and even commercial enterprises being involved in recent times, said Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst and author based in Virginia.

The aircraft, alone, are expensive to operate, and the Pentagon has put the hourly cost at tens of thousands of dollars. Turboprop P-3 Orion and jet-powered P-8 Poseidon sub hunters, along with C-130 Hercules, were all utilized in the search.

Some agencies can seek reimbursements. But the U.S. Coast Guard — whose bill alone will hit the millions of dollars — is generally prohibited by federal law from collecting reimbursement pertaining to any search or rescue service, said Stephen Koerting, a U.S. attorney in Maine who specializes in maritime law.

“The Coast Guard, as a matter of both law and policy, does not seek to recover the costs associated with search and rescue from the recipients of those services,” the Coast Guard said Friday in a statement.

How the design of the submersible could have contributed to its failure

Saturday 1 July 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Several experts have said that the design of the Titan submersible may not have been as suitable as other designs when taking deep dives to the Titanic wreckage.

Chris Roman, a professor at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography told Associated Press that the elongated shape of the Titan could have increased the external pressure.

Mr Roman said the sphere is “the perfect shape” because water pressure is equal on all sides.

The sub imploded on Sunday, 18 June with five people aboard.

That implosion could have been caused by tiny fissures in the hull of the sub, according to Jasper Graham-Jones, an associate professor of mechanical and marine engineering at the University of Plymouth.

Each time the sub went down to the Titanic, tiny cracks would have formed.

“This might be small and undetectable to start but would soon become critical and produce rapid and uncontrollable growth,” Mr Graham-Jones said.

Who was Hamish Harding?

Saturday 1 July 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Hamish Harding, 58, was a British billionaire, aviation tycoon and explorer.

Mr Harding is among the five people who died on a failed submarine expedition.

“He was one of a kind and we adored him. He was a passionate explorer – whatever the terrain – who lived his life for his family, his business and for the next adventure,” a statement from Mr Harding’s family reads.

In 2021, he went on a record-setting voyage to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, which at 36,000 feet below sea level is the deepest part of the ocean.

“What he achieved in his lifetime was truly remarkable and if we can take any small consolation from this tragedy, it’s that we lost him doing what he loved.”

Harding also made record-breaking trips to the South Pole alongside Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the oldest person ever to reach the pole, and Harding’s son Giles, 12, the youngest to ever accomplish the feat.

What photos of the Titanic sub debris tell us about its implosion

Saturday 1 July 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Images of the wreckage recovered from the Titan submersible at the bottom of the North Atlantic appear to confirm the theory that the vessel suffered a massive implosion under the pressure of the ocean.

Jonas Mureika, a professor of physics at Loyola Marymount University, tells The Independent that calling the implosion “catastrophic” is referring to the intensity and speed of what took place.

“The pressure at that depth (3.8 km) is incredibly high, about 400 times atmospheric pressure. That’s 6,000 pounds per square inch acting on the submarine – atmospheric pressure is roughly 15 pounds per square inch,” he noted in an email.

Gustaf Kilander and Andrea Blanco report:

What photos of the Titanic sub debris tell us about its implosion

Deep sea rescue company boss gets emotional describing Titan search

Saturday 1 July 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio

Edward Cassano, Pelagic Research Services CEO, held back tears as he described the moment the Titan submersible search and rescue turned “into a recovery.”

Just hours after arriving, Pelagic Research Services found debris from the imploded sub and relayed the information to the victim’s families.

Mr Cassano was speaking to press at the conclusion of the search, when he said: “We have to apologise - there are a lot of emotions, and people are tired.”

Watch: Deep sea rescue company boss gets emotional describing Titan search

The ROV that discovered the debris

Saturday 1 July 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

Pelagic Research Services’s remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), Odysseus, was flown-in to the site of the Titanic wreckage to assist in the international search for any sign of the five passengers or the Titan.

Odysseus is one of the few ROVs that can reach the depths where the Titanic wreckage sits at 12,500 feet (3,700 metres). Until Odysseus was able to reach the ocean floor, the US Coast Guard and US Navy were unable to determine where the sub went or if it had surely imploded.

Titanic actor Lew Palter dies

Saturday 1 July 2023 11:00 , Ariana Baio

Lew Palter, the actor best known for his role as Isidor Straus in James Cameron’s 1997 epic Titanic, died aged 94 on 21 May.

Palter died on 21 May of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Catherine Palter, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Watch: Janet Street-Porter questions ‘morality’ of Titanic submarine tourism

Saturday 1 July 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio

Actor who took Titanic sub reveals how it ran out of batteries mid-voyage

Saturday 1 July 2023 07:00 , Ariana Baio

A Mexican actor who last year undertook an undersea voyage on the same Titanic-bound Titan submersible that has gone missing said he was lost in the depths of the sea for two hours.

Alan Estrada said the battery of OceanGate’s Titan submersible drained mid-voyage, forcing the vessel to return to save the lives of its passengers.

The Youtuber said he secured a $125,000 excursion to see the world’s biggest shipwreck last July, after getting delayed by a year for unspecified reasons. The price, which was paid for by a sponsor for the trip, had doubled by then to $250,000.

“My biggest concern was obviously losing my life,” Mr Estrada said. “All the people who made this expedition … we are aware of the risks we are taking. It’s not a surprise.”

A spokesperson for the mothership which launched the missing submersible defended OceanGate, saying it runs an “extremely safe operation” after questions were raised about safety. The submersible Titan is run by OceanGate.

Sean Leet, co-founder and chairman of Horizon Maritime Services, which owns the Polar Prince mothership from which Titan was launched, said: “OceanGate runs an extremely safe operation.”

Inside the Titan submersible

Saturday 1 July 2023 05:00 , Ariana Baio

The vessel weighs 10,432kg in total and can travel at a maximum speed of three knots, made possible by Four Innerspace 1002 electric thrusters.

The tourists and scientists who typically ride in it are able to look out via a large viewport window, their perspective enhanced by Sub C Imaging 4k Rayfin exterior cameras that capture the surrounding marine environment in a live feed that is displayed on a large digital display.

There is little by way of comfort inside but there is a toilet, although privacy is limited because it is situated right next to the viewing window.

Most astonishingly, the craft is controlled by a generic video games controller – specifically a Logitech F710 Wireless PC Gamepad from 2011, according to gaming expert Matthew Ruddle – and, rather than using a GPS for navigation, it communicates with a tracking team aboard a surface ship, in this case the Polar Prince, via text messages.

Head of Titanic sub recovery team dodges question about OceanGate

Saturday 1 July 2023 04:00 , Ariana Baio

Since the Titan submersible imploded, killing five people aboard, the subject of extreme tourism has been highly debated online and by professionals.

But when the CEO of Pelagic Research Services, the company that helped oversee the recovery mission of the submersible, was asked what his thoughts were on the trips OceanGate took to the Titanic he claimed he did not have a strong opinion.

“I don’t necessarily have an opinion on that, it’s a strong investigation going on right now,” Edward Cassano said in a press conference on Friday.

Mr Cassano helped lead the team of people from Pelagic Research Services who used their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to find the debris from the submersible last week.

During the press conference, he became visibly upset when speaking about the five people who died while on a trip to view the Titanic wreckage and asked people to remain respectful about the tragedy.

But despite being part of the widely-viewed search, rescue and recovery mission, Mr Cassano did not express negative thoughts on extreme tourism.

“Explorers, people who seek to be on the ocean to go to depth, it’s very compelling,” Mr Cassano said. “We certainly share those desires, our whole company is designed to support research and design at depth.”

“It was a passion and a joy for exploration,” he added.

Canadian police weigh criminal investigation over Titan sub disaster

Saturday 1 July 2023 03:00 , Ariana Baio

Police in Canada announced on Saturday that they are considering a criminal investigation over the deaths of five men in the Oceangate submersible implosion.

Superintendent Kent Osmond of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Newfoundland and Labrador said law enforcement were in the early stages of the probe.

“Following the US Coast Guard’s announcement earlier this week that debris from the submersible was located and all five on board were presumed dead, we will now look at the circumstances that led to those deaths,” Mr Osmond said, at a press conference.

“Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of the circumstances indicate criminal, federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken.”

The Independent reports:

Canadian police weigh criminal investigation over Titan sub disaster

OceanGate got $450,000 in Covid pandemic aid

Saturday 1 July 2023 02:00 , Ariana Baio

OceanGate, the company behind the ill-fated Titanic sub, received more than $450,000 in aid during the Covid pandemic.

The Washington-based company received $447,000 in loans and the government forgave it $450,074, with interest.

The Payment Protection Program loans were made through Washington Trust Bank and approved on 10 April 2020 when the company had 22 employees, according to a ProPublica database.

How the deep-sea tragedy unfolded

Saturday 1 July 2023 01:00 , Ariana Baio

Sunday (18 June)

The Polar Prince icebreaker sailed around 900 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, where it set anchor.

The five-person crew was dropped into the ocean in their 22-foot long submersible vessel, the Titan, around 8am EST the submersible was launched, according to the US Coast Guard

One hour and 45 minutes later, the vessel lost contact with the Polar Prince.

According to the Coast Guard, the sub was meant to surface at 3pm EST.

When it failed to resurface, the crew raised the alarm with authorities at 5.40pm EST.

Monday (19 June)

On Monday morning, authorities revealed the Titan was missing and a large-scale search operation had been launched.

At 1.30pm, the US Coastguard’s Northeast tweeted that a C-130 Hercules reconnaissance aircraft had been dispatched to search for the Titan. P8 Poseidon aircraft with underwater sonar capabilities joined the search on Monday afternoon.

Tuesday (20 June)

OceanGate confirmed that its chief executive and founder Stockton Rush is “aboard the submersible as a member of the crew”.

A Canadian Aircraft P3 Aurora joined the effort, as the search area expanded to 10,000sqm.

During the press conference on Tuesday, Captain Frederick said there were around 40 to 41 hours of oxygen left on the submersible.

He said that a “unified command” of multiple agencies had been formed to tackle the “very complex problem” of finding the vessel but so far this had “not yielded any results”.

Wednesday (21 June)

According to internal e-mail updates sent to Department of Homeland Security leadership, the Canadian aircraft detected “banging” noises every 30 minutes.

The US Coast Guard on Wednesday morning said: “Canadian P-3 aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area. As a result, ROV (remote operating vehicles) operations were relocated in an attempt to explore the origin of the noises.

“Those ROV searches have yielded negative results but continue.

Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard confirmed that the vessel had less than 24 hours of oxygen supply left. He also acknowledged that officials do not know if crews will be able to rescue the people on board even if they do manage to find the sub before the oxygen runs out.

Thursday (22 June)

The air supply on the missing Titanic tourist submarine came down to its last hours, as rescue workers continued their increasingly desperate search for the five stranded passengers.

Soon after that deadline passed, officials announced a “debris field” had been found in the search area.

Five crew members were later confirmed to have died after the Titanic tourist submarine suffered a “catastrophic explosion”.

Family of billionaire explorer on Titanic sub say instant death from implosion was ‘best outcome’

Saturday 1 July 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

Kathleen Cosnett, the cousin of explorer Hamish Harding who died in the submersible trip to the Titanic says his death as the vessel imploded was the “best outcome” compared with the crew slowly running out of oxygen.

Elon Musk suggests the connection between Starlink and the sub was a 'psyop’

Friday 30 June 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter and SpaceX, responded to a tweet made by Snopes, suggesting the connection between Starlink and the sub was a “psyop.”

The company operating the sub, OceanGate Expeditions, previously tweeted their appreciation for Mr Musk’s Starlink service — provided through SpaceX — which allowed them to access the internet while adventuring in the North Atlantic Ocean.

“Despite being in the middle of the North Atlantic, we have the internet connection we need to make our #Titanic dive operations a success - thank you @Starlink!” the company tweeted earlier this month.

Mr Musk responded to a tweet made by Snopes post pointing out that he is the CEO of SpaceX, which provides the Starlink service.

An 1851 maritime law protected the Titanic’s owners in court. Could OceanGate use it too?

Friday 30 June 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

The owners of the Titanic sought to limit liability following the ship’s sinking by petitioning under 1851 legislation. The owners of the submersible lost on its dive to visit that famed ship’s wreckage may do the same thing

Sheila Flynn reports:

An 1851 maritime law protected Titanic owners in court. Could OceanGate use it too?

Watch: Search and rescue company boss visibly emotional describing Titan search

Friday 30 June 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

Voices: The Titanic submersible disaster was an accident waiting to happen

Friday 30 June 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

“Whether the Titan is missing because of deficiencies in design and construction or because of mistakes made by its operator – Rush – may be lost to history if the submersible is never found. The lesson of the Titanic, however, is that it can be both. Had Captain Edward Smith reduced the ship’s speed, perhaps it could have navigated the icy waters better. Had the ship been equipped with enough lifeboats for passengers, or had fewer of the watertight compartments been breached, perhaps more lives could have been saved.”

Skylar Baker-Jordan writes:

The Titanic sub disaster was an accident waiting to happen | Opinion

MrBeast claims he turned down trip on Titanic submersible

Friday 30 June 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Popular YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name James Donaldson, claimed that he turned down a trip on the Titanic submersible.

On Twitter, Mr Donaldson wrote: “I was invited earlier this month to ride the Titanic submarine, I said no. Kind of scary that I could have been on it.” has claimed that he turned down a trip on the Titanic submarine.

He shared a screenshot of what appears to be a message sent to his phone, which reads: “Also, I’m going to the Titanic in a submarine late this month. The team would be stoked to have you along.”

CEO of Pelagic Research Services says recovery costs “a lot"

Friday 30 June 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio

When asked how much the recovery operation in the Titan submersible will cost, Pelagic Research Services CEO Edward Cassano said “A lot.”

Mr Cassano declined to give a specific number or even a range but when a reporter asked if it was in the “millions” or “billions” Mr Cassano responded with, “sure.”

Watch: Teenage Titanic submersible victim's mother shares last words she shared with son

Friday 30 June 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio

Sub recovery company asks people to ‘respect the seriousness’ of events

Friday 30 June 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Edward Cassano, the CEO of Pelagic Research Services, asked people to “Recognise the seriousness of the event and respect the death” of the victims of the Titan submersible incident and their families.

Mr Cassano swallowed back tears while giving a press conference on Friday regarding the recovery of the imploded submersible.

“Recognise the seriousness of the event and respect the death and range of emotions, certainly most important the friends and family of the Titan, and all of those in the response,” Mr Cassano said.

Pelagic Research Services says it was ‘wild’ joining submersible search

Friday 30 June 2023 18:45 , Ariana Baio

The CEO of Pelagic Research Services (PRS), Edward Cassano, described what it was like for his company to join the search and rescue operation for the Titan submersible.

“It was wild,” Mr Cassano said during a press conference on Friday (30 June).

Mr Cassano said PRS’s ship was nearly 200 feet shorter than the research vessel Deep Water which was already on site looking for the Titan submersible.

PRS had one of the only remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) that was capable of reaching the ocean floor where the Titanic wreckage was and finding debris from the sub.

Watch: Titan submersible search ends as debris recovery company holds press conference

Friday 30 June 2023 18:02 , Ariana Baio

Live: Titan submersible search ends as debris recovery company holds press conference

Florida couple drop lawsuit against OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush

Friday 30 June 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio

A Florida couple who sued Stockton Rush for refusing to refund their $210,000 deposit for a Titanic shipwreck tour have dropped the lawsuit after the OceanGate Expeditions CEO was among five to die in a “catastrophic implosion” last week.

Marc and Sharon Hagle filed a lawsuit in February claiming Rush had repeatedly cancelled a deep-sea dive they had booked on the Titan submersible in 2018.

After Rush was confirmed to have died on the Titan during an ill-fated trip to the famed North Atlantic shipwreck on Sunday 18 June, the couple said the “honour, respect and dignity” of the victims were more important than their claim.

“Like most around the world, we have watched the coverage of the OceanGate Titan capsule with great concern and enormous amount of sadness and compassion for the families of those who lost their lives,” the Hagles said in a statement to Fox 35.

“In light of these tragic events, we have informed our attorneys to withdraw all legal actions against Stockton,” the statement read.

Father and grandfather of submersible victims give teary tribute to victims

Friday 30 June 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Hussain Dawood, the father of Titan submersible victim Shahzada Dawood and grandfather of Suleman Dawood, gave a touching tribute to his son and grandson in a prayer video.

“In this situation what does a father say? And a grandfather?” Mr Dawood said wiping tears from his face.

Mr Dawood said Shahzada and Suleman were “so excited” about going to see the Titanic and praised their spirits of exploration. He recalled that they convinced the family to visit Antarctica with them this coming winter.

”They are an amazing father and son,” Mr Dawood said.

Previous passengers recall ill-fated Titan

Friday 30 June 2023 16:30 , Ariana Baio

Talk to someone who rode on the Titan submersible, and they’re likely to mention a technological glitch: the propulsion system failed or communications with people on the surface cut out. Maybe there were problems balancing weights on board.

“I 100% knew this was going to happen,” said Brian Weed, a camera operator for the Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown” show.

Mr Weed went on a Titan test dive in May 2021 in Washington state’s Puget Sound as it prepared for its first expeditions to the sunken Titanic. Mr Weed and his colleagues were preparing to join OceanGate Expeditions to film the famous shipwreck later that summer.

They quickly encountered problems: The propulsion system stopped working. The computers failed to respond. Communications shut down.

Stockton Rush, the OceanGate CEO, tried rebooting and troubleshooting the vessel on its touch screens.

“You could tell that he was flustered and not really happy with the performance,” Mr Weed said. “But he was trying to make light of it, trying to make excuses.”