Titan submersible disaster was ‘preventable’: Coast Guard report

The report pointed to major issues in the design, certification, maintenance, and inspection of the submersible, and said OceanGate operated within a “toxic workplace culture”. The company, based in Washington state, had no effective oversight or compliance with safety frameworks, domestic or international, that govern deep-sea expeditions, the report said.

Marine Board of Investigation chair Jason Neubauer said the findings should serve as a “blueprint” to avoid future disasters. “There is a need for stronger oversight and clear options for operators who are exploring new concepts outside of the existing regulatory framework,” he said.

The incident has since sparked lawsuits and calls for tighter regulation of private deep-sea exploration. Several OceanGate employees have come forward since the disaster to corroborate claims of safety lapses and internal dysfunction.

(With inputs from AP)