NOTfter the confirmed deaths of the five occupants of the Titan submersible near the wreck of the Titanic, Canada has launched an investigation into the tragedy. The Canadian Highway Safety Authority (TSB) announced on Friday (local time) that it would “conduct a safety investigation into the circumstances of this operation”. The Titan, operated by private company Oceangate, was delivered to the site by a Canadian-flagged mothership. That is why Canada is responsible for the investigation.

According to the TSB, a team of investigators has been dispatched to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. They are responsible for gathering information, conducting interviews and evaluating the incident. In the coming days, activities should be coordinated with other agencies involved, he said.

The sub must have imploded

After the Titan disappeared on Sunday, the US Coast Guard launched a large-scale search about 700 kilometers south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland, with the help mainly of Canadian forces. Debris from the vehicle was discovered just 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic wreck. It was clear that all five occupants, including Oceangate boss Stockton Rush, were dead.

Everything indicates that the hull of the boat gave way under the enormous pressure of the water and imploded. The Titanic lies at a depth of about 3800 meters at the bottom of the sea. The luxury liner sank in 1912.

According to various experts, the developers and operators of the submersible circumvented accepted standards and ignored warnings. According to the media, as early as 2018, a letter from the Marine Technology Society (MTS) organization warned of the experimental nature of the tourist offer and that the trips could end in disaster.

Former British submarine captain Ryan Ramsay told the PA news agency that the hatch, which had to be closed with 17 screws from the outside, may be faulty. Another possibility is that there was previously a fault in the pressure shell itself.