Nearly one year after the catastrophic implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible, which claimed the lives of all five crew members, the family of French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet has filed a $50 million wrongful death suit. The lawsuit alleges negligence and recklessness on the part of OceanGate, while the U.S. Coast Guard continues its investigation into the disaster.
Nearly one year after the deadly implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible, which claimed the lives of five crew members while exploring the Titanic wreckage in the North Atlantic, the family of French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet has filed a $50 million wrongful death suit against OceanGate, the owner of the submersible.
Deadly Titan Submersible Implosion: Wrongful Death Suit Filed and Coast Guard Investigation Ongoing
The lawsuit, filed in Washington state, alleges that OceanGate was negligent in its operation of the Titan submersible and failed to disclose important information about its durability and history. The family's lawyers allege that Nargeolet was not made aware of several flaws and shortcomings of the vessel and that he would not have agreed to participate in the expedition if he had been fully informed.
The U.S. Coast Guard is still actively investigating the implosion, which occurred on June 18, 2023. The Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) is examining all aspects of the incident, including the design, maintenance, and operation of the submersible. The MBI is also assessing the adequacy of training and safety protocols for deep-sea exploration vessels.
Deadly Titan Submersible Implosion: Wrongful Death Suit Filed and Coast Guard Investigation Ongoing
The Coast Guard has previously stated that the investigation "will take longer than initially projected to complete." The complexity of the investigation and the need for thorough analysis have contributed to the delay.
The Titan submersible was designed to withstand the extreme pressures found at depths of up to 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). However, it imploded at a depth of approximately 3,800 meters (12,500 feet).
Deadly Titan Submersible Implosion: Wrongful Death Suit Filed and Coast Guard Investigation Ongoing
The five crew members who were killed in the implosion included Nargeolet, Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, and father-and-son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood. Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, was operating the submersible at the time of the incident.
OceanGate has declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The wrongful death suit filed by Nargeolet's family is likely to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the implosion and the potential liability of OceanGate. The outcome of the Coast Guard investigation will also be closely watched by the maritime industry and those involved in deep-sea exploration.
The tragedy underscores the inherent risks involved in deep-sea exploration and the importance of rigorous safety protocols and comprehensive training for crew members. The lessons learned from this incident will be crucial to preventing similar disasters in the future.
