Canada, US jointly investigate Titan submersible tragedy

The Canadian government has opened an investigation into the tragedy of the Titan submersible being destroyed while exploring the wreck of the Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) announced on June 23 that it is responsible for investigating the safety factors in the Titan submersible tragedy because the mothership supporting the fateful expedition was the Polar Prince, flying the Canadian flag.

The Polar Prince, which had been in Canadian Coast Guard service before being transferred to the municipality of Miawpukek, south of New Foundland, served as the launch and recovery point for the Titan submersible, as well as a communications link during the expedition.

The TSB noted that its investigation is primarily focused on the events and circumstances surrounding the Polar Prince. Investigators have been dispatched to St. John, Newfoundland, the home port of the Polar Prince and the Titan.

The Titan submersible in a CBS report last year. Photo: CBS — The Titan submersible in a CBS report last year. Photo: *CBS*

The TSB notes that it can take years to complete an investigation and does not have the authority to make conclusions about criminal or civil liability of the parties involved.

Previously, the US Coast Guard also announced that it would lead the investigation into the entire Titan submersible tragedy.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the accident in the Atlantic Ocean was a "major casualty event at sea", so the primary responsibility for the investigation lies with the US Coast Guard and the NTSB will send support personnel.

The Titan submersible lost contact on June 18, nearly two hours after it began its exploration of the Titanic wreck. The US Coast Guard confirmed on June 22 that the submersible had been crushed to the bottom of the sea, killing five people on board. Debris was found 488 meters from the bow of the Titanic wreck.

How did the Titan submarine disappear? Click on the image for details. — How did the Titan submarine disappear? *Click on the image for details.*

US officials believe the Titan was crushed by the enormous water pressure at a depth of nearly 4,000 km, killing the victims almost instantly, but it is not yet clear whether this was due to technical failure of the ship or human error. Investigators will have to salvage debris from the seabed to find out more information, but this task is said to be very difficult and time-consuming.

Thanh Danh (According to Globe and Mail, Reuters )

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