Who Built the Titan Submersible
The Titan submersible was built by OceanGate, a private company that designs and operates crewed submersibles for deep-ocean research and tourism. The vessel was developed under the direction of Stockton Rush, OceanGate's CEO, who served as the pilot on the fatal 2023 dive.
Titan Submersible Design and Construction
OceanGate engineered the Titan as a deep-diving crewed submersible intended for repeated dives to the wreck of the Titanic. The hull used a carbon-fiber and titanium cylinder, a configuration that OceanGate promoted as a cost-effective alternative to traditional deep-submergence vehicles.
OceanGate and Regulatory Context
OceanGate had not sought certification from recognized classification societies for the Titan. The company stated it was operating under its own experimental framework, which drew scrutiny after the submersible lost contact during its descent to the Titanic site. For background on OceanGate's history and the subsequent investigations, see BBC coverage of the Titan submersible.
