Q: Who is testifying at the Titan submersible hearing?

There are 24 witnesses on the Coast Guard’s official list . Although some important players in the saga are expected to testify, experts have said key witnesses are missing from the list, including several OceanGate executives and representatives of the companies that built parts of the Titan. One witness’s testimony is sure to attract attention: David Lochridge, who raised serious concerns about the safety of the Titan’s design while he was employed as director of operations for OceanGate, is set to speak Tuesday. Lochridge was fired from OceanGate in 2018 and was sued by the company. Lochridge and OceanGate settled the lawsuit in 2018.

Question 1

What happened to the Titan submersible?

Accepted Answer

The Titan submersible disappeared in the North Atlantic on June 18 last year, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a dive to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. Five men were on board: Stockton Rush, the submersible’s pilot and OceanGate’s founder and CEO; Hamish Harding, a British aviation executive and seasoned adventurer; Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a retired French navy commander who had led several expeditions to the Titanic; and British Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman. After an extensive search, rescuers found debris from the Titan on the ocean floor, about 550 yards from the Titanic, and later recovered human remains. The Coast Guard said the vessel suffered a catastrophic loss of pressure and imploded, killing all of its passengers.

Question 2

What is the Titan submersible hearing about?

Accepted Answer

A Marine Board of Investigation is the U.S. Coast Guard’s highest level of investigation, which it carries out in the event of “significant maritime casualties.” It is tasked with determining the causes and any factors that may have led to the implosion and issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents. The process involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and holding a public hearing. The board has the authority to administer oaths, issue subpoenas and summon witnesses. After the hearing, which is expected to last about two weeks, the board will create a public report, which will include looking into whether a criminal act took place under U.S. laws and making referrals to the relevant authorities for prosecution. The hearing is separate from a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Nargeolet, the French explorer, in August.

Question 3

Who is testifying at the Titan submersible hearing?

Accepted Answer

There are 24 witnesses on the Coast Guard’s official list. Although some important players in the saga are expected to testify, experts have said key witnesses are missing from the list, including several OceanGate executives and representatives of the companies that built parts of the Titan. One witness’s testimony is sure to attract attention: David Lochridge, who raised serious concerns about the safety of the Titan’s design while he was employed as director of operations for OceanGate, is set to speak Tuesday. Lochridge was fired from OceanGate in 2018 and was sued by the company. Lochridge and OceanGate settled the lawsuit in 2018.

Question 4

What are some key things the Titan hearing has revealed?

Accepted Answer

The first day of the hearing was Monday, and it revealed information on disagreements within OceanGate about the safety of the Titan and on what happened in the submersible’s final minutes:

What to know about the hearing into the Titan submersible disaster

The Coast Guard hearing into the deadly 2023 implosion has revealed questions over the Titan’s safety and the submersible’s last messages to the surface.