Debris recovered from the small submarine with five people on board that catastrophically imploded to the ocean floor last week contains "presumed human remains," the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
Salvaged pieces from the submersible Titan, which was traveling on a sightseeing expedition to see the wreckage of the Titanic, were unloaded from the Canadian Horizon Arctic ship at the Canadian Coast Guard dock in St. John's, Newfoundland, Wednesday morning.
Crews dumped there what appeared to be the Titan's hull, crumpled and twisted with exposed cables and wires. Footage from The Canadian Press showed what appeared to be a piece of hull liner and other debris being discharged from the Horizon Arctic, a ship that had deployed a remotely operated vehicle to search for the submersible on the ocean floor.
The U.S. Coast Guard later said it received the debris and evidence, including "presumed human remains," that had been recovered from the ocean floor in the incident that killed all five passengers on the ship.
The victims are the founder of the company that operated it, a British businessman and explorer who held several Guinness World Records, a father and son of a prominent Pakistani family and a French maritime expert.
The Horizon Arctic ship, which rescued under the sea the remains of the submersible Titan, which imploded under the sea. Photo: REUTERS
What they will do with the findings
The evidence will be transported to a port in the United States for "further analysis and testing" by the Marine Research Board, the Coast Guard said.
"The evidence will provide investigators in several international jurisdictions with critical information about the cause of this tragedy," Navy Board of Inquiry Chairman Capt. Jason Neubauer said in a statement. "There is still a substantial amount of work to be done to understand the factors that led to Titan's catastrophic loss and help ensure that a similar tragedy does not happen again."
The remains of the Titan, in a port in Canada. Photo: REUTERS
The news comes nearly a week after a remotely operated vehicle discovered wreckage of the Ocean Gate-operated submersible that disappeared Sunday at the bottom of the ocean. The wreckage, including the tail cone, was found four days later, on June 22 about 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic, which sank in 1912.
The additional debris found later was "consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber," according to Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander of the Coast Guard's First District.
The Canadian Coast Guard said at the time it would remain on the scene and "provide assistance and support to recovery and salvage operations as requested by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Boston."
Research into the causes
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading an investigation into the deadly crash, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which said it will "contribute to its efforts."
In addition, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said over the weekend that they are "examining the circumstances" of the deaths aboard the Titan and will launch a full investigation if "circumstances indicate that criminal, federal or provincial laws may have been violated."
In a statement, Pelagic Research Services, which led the deep-sea recovery effort, said it had "successfully completed offshore operations" and was in the process of demobilization, marking the end of a mission and a return to home base.
The crew has been "working day and night for 10 days, through the physical and mental challenges of this operation, and are eager to finish the mission and return to their loved ones," Pelagic Research Services said in its statement.
Washington, correspondent
CB
See also