The U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation released a more than 300-page report on 5 August concluding that the 18 June 2023 implosion of OceanGate’s Titan submersible was “entirely preventable.” Investigators said the 22-foot craft’s inadequate design, lack of third-party certification and poor maintenance, combined with weak internal oversight, led directly to the accident that killed all five people on board during a dive to the Titanic wreck. The report places primary responsibility on OceanGate founder and chief executive Stockton Rush, who also piloted the dive. It accuses Rush of ignoring hull anomalies, dismissing staff safety concerns and employing intimidation tactics to avoid regulatory scrutiny as the company faced mounting financial pressure. Had he survived, the board says it would have considered referring him for potential criminal prosecution. Beyond fault-finding, the Coast Guard issued 17 recommendations aimed at closing regulatory gaps for novel submersibles. Proposals include revoking research-vessel exemptions, mandating third-party classification and certification, enhancing whistle-blower protections and requiring operators to file pre-dive emergency plans. The board also urged U.S. agencies to push for binding international standards through the International Maritime Organization. Titan imploded at roughly 3,300 meters depth, killing Rush, British adventurer Hamish Harding, French oceanographer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman. OceanGate has since halted operations and said it is cooperating with investigators, while relatives of the victims pursue civil claims.