On Monday, September 16, the US Coast Guard shared an animation during the first day of what is expected to be a two-week hearing.
Among those who tragically lost their lives were British adventurer Hamish Harding, along with Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.
Shahzada Dawood was a businessman based in London and an adviser to Prince’s Trust International, a charity associated with King Charles.
His son Suleman was a student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Their last message was, “all good.”
During the hearing, an image of the Titan submersible was shown, with the tail of the vessel stuck vertically on the seabed.
The disaster sparked a global conversation about the safety and future of private deep-sea exploration.
In a statement earlier this month, the Coast Guard explained that the Marine Board of Investigation, which is conducting the hearing, represents the highest level of marine casualty investigation.
Once the hearing wraps up, the recommendations will be sent to the Coast Guard’s commandant.
“But we hope that this hearing will help shed light on the cause of the tragedy and prevent anything like this from happening again.”
While many questions about the safety of deep-sea explorations remain, earlier this year, billionaire Larry Connor expressed interest in building another sub similar to the Titan.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal in May, Connor said, “I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way.”
However, his plans might change depending on the outcome of the current hearing, which will conclude in two weeks.
