A final, tragic text from doomed Titan sub revealed at Coast Guard hearing

globalnews.ca:

Titan submersible were revealed in a hearing Monday, presented by the U.S. Coast Guard alongside a re-creation of the journey aboard the fated experimental vessel.The hearing, expected to last two weeks, will examine the causes of the June 2023 implosion that instantly killed five people on board.According to the presentation, crew aboard the Titan were communicating with support staff aboard the Polar Prince via text message shortly before they lost communication.The Polar Prince was the Titan’s support vessel and had towed the submersible out to the area in the North Atlantic where it carried out its dive.As the submersible descended on its mission to view the wreckage of the Titanic, there were repeated inquiries from the Polar Prince about the Titan’s depth and weight, as well as texts asking if the Titan could still see the Polar Prince on its onboard display.

As the sub lowered, communication became increasingly spotty.“All good here,” was among the Titan’s final responses, the hearing heard.The Titan imploded on June 18, 2023, killing all five on board and setting off a worldwide debate about the future of private undersea exploration.In other testimony Monday, Coast Guard officials said the Titan was left exposed to weather and elements while in storage for seven months in 2022 and 2023. The hull was also never reviewed by any third parties as is standard procedure, they said.The ongoing Marine Board of Investigation is the highest level of marine casualty investigation conducted by the Coast Guard.

When the hearing concludes, recommendations will be submitted to the Coast Guard’s commandant. The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting an investigation.“There are no words to ease the loss endured