'Preventable’ | OceanGate tragedy shows why HR process is vital, however unpopular

Tragic. Reckless. Doomed.

Many words have been used to describe the fatal maiden voyage of the OceanGate Titan submersible in June 2023, during which five people, including founder Stockon Rush, lost their lives.

With the release of a report on OceanGate by the US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation (MBI), we can now add another to the list: preventable.

In a damning 335-page report, the MBI found major flaws in the submersible’s design, maintenance, and inspection processes. Known issues with Titan’s hull were not thoroughly investigated, and during the expedition itself, problems were not monitored in real time, it said.