Titan sub ship returns to harbour ahead of implosion tragedy probe

24 June 2023, 17:49

The support vessel will now be searched by Canadian investigators
The support vessel will now be searched by Canadian investigators. Picture: Alamy

By Adam Solomons

The Titan submersible's support vessel returned to harbour as Canadian investigators prepared a probe into the catastrophic implosion which killed five Titanic adventurers.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Flags on Polar Prince were at half mast as the ship arrived back at St John's, Newfoundland on Saturday.

Officials from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) boarded the ship as they began an investigation into the support vessel's role in the tragedy.

Investigators have found parts of the wrecked submersible, which lost contact with company OceanGate, less than 500m from the bow of the Titanic.

It's thought the bodies of victims Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood and Paul-Henry Nargeolet may never be found.

Read more: Ross Kemp was set to dive to the Titanic on doomed submersible but production company ruled it was too dangerous

Read more: OceanGate boss 'was warned about creaking noise that indicated danger' to hull of Titan sub years before implosion

Staff are pictured leaving Polar Prince after its return to harbour in Canada earlier today
Staff are pictured leaving Polar Prince after its return to harbour in Canada earlier today. Picture: Alamy

The TSB said earlier today: "In accordance with the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and international agreements, the TSB, as the investigation authority of the flag state of the support vessel involved in the occurrence, will conduct a safety investigation regarding the circumstances of this operation conducted by the Canadian-flagged vessel Polar Prince.

"A team of TSB investigators is travelling to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, to gather information, conduct interviews, and assess the occurrence.

"In the coming days, we will coordinate our activities with other agencies involved."

Investigators are pictured boarding the support vessel after it arrived at harbour in Newfoundland on Saturday
Investigators are pictured boarding the support vessel after it arrived at harbour in Newfoundland on Saturday. Picture: Alamy

It came after a submersibles expert who went aboard the Titan sub heard cracking sounds and reported his concerns to the company's boss.

Karl Stanley told OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush about the issues in April 2019.

He sent an email to Rush, setting out his belief that it "sounded like a flaw/defect in one area being acted on by the tremendous pressures and being crushed/damaged".

Vanessa O'Brien on the Titan submersible

Emails obtained by the New York Times show he worried part of the hull "is breaking down" and he said Rush should go slower with making the sub.

He told Rush: "A useful thought exercise here would be to imagine the removal of the variables of the investors, the eager mission scientists, your team hungry for success, the press releases already announcing this summer's dive schedule.

"Imagine this project was self funded and on your own schedule. Would you consider taking dozens of other people to the Titanic before you truly knew the source of those sounds??"

He received no reply from the CEO.

Rush, 61, died on the submarine when it likely imploded after setting off the the Titanic on Sunday.

The explorer who narrowly avoided trip on missing OceanGate sub

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine

Trump pauses all military aid to Ukraine as he demands Zelenskyy show 'commitment to peace' following clash

Donald Trump

White House 'drawing up plans to ease sanctions against Russia' after Trump launches fresh attack against Zelenskyy

Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House

US tariffs on Canada and Mexico to go ahead as Trump says 'no room left' for negotiation

TV still from With Love, Meghan

Meghan insists she's not an influencer or tradwife as she opens up about Montecito life ahead of Netflix show

The ancient neolithic monument of Stonehenge near Amesbury

Britons - including ones who built Stonehenge - ‘were mostly black 5,000 years ago,’ study suggests

Zelenskyy should be 'more appreciative', Trump has said.

Zelenskyy should be 'more appreciative', says Trump as he insists Ukraine war must 'end fast'

The BBC has pulled the documentary from iPlayer.

Ofcom shares 'ongoing concern' over BBC's controversial Gaza show and warns it may intervene in investigation

Emily Thornberry speaks to LBC’s Andrew Marr

UK must 'bridge gap' between US and Ukraine, says Emily Thornberry as she praises PM's 'pitch perfect' response

Speaking for the first time since the charity stopped taking donations, Ms Ingram-Moore declared it is time to “move on” after her family’s reputation was “demolished."

Captain Tom’s daughter to release another book despite probe finding last £1.5m deal didn't go to charity

Sheffield Crown Court was told during a five-week trial how the girls were sexually assaulted several times a week over a period of six months in the South Yorkshire town.

Two men found guilty of raping teenage girls from children’s home in Rotherham grooming case

Pope Francis

Pope suffers 'two episodes of acute respiratory failure', Vatican says

Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he 'does not want peace' after the Ukrainian president insisted that a peace deal was 'still very, very far away'.

'America won't put up with this for much longer' - Trump hits out at Zelenskyy again

The Government announced its plans to ban new leasehold flats and make commonhold the default tenure, in a bid to give homeowners greater control over their properties.

New leasehold flats set to be banned as centuries-old ‘feudal’ system to be abolished, Government says

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a statement on Ukraine, in the House of Commons.

'Test of our times': Sir Keir Starmer says US 'vital' in securing peace in Ukraine - days after ugly Oval Office row

The attack took place on Seven Sisters Road

Teenage girls ‘surrounded man, 75, before they pushed, shoved, kicked and punched him to death', court hears

Trump accused of making White House 'arm of the Kremlin' - as Zelenskyy insists peace deal 'is still very, very far away'

Trump accused of making White House an 'arm of the Kremlin' - as Zelenskyy says peace deal 'is still very far away'