Five people died when the submarine imploded in the Atlantic in June 2023. The owner of the submarine, the company Oceangate, has previously been criticized and now an investigation by the coast guard shows that the accident could have been prevented.
The report states that the accident was mainly caused by the company's failure to follow established protocols for safety, testing and maintenance.
Oceangate is criticized in the report for having downplayed, ignored and falsified important safety information to improve the company's brand and avoid inspections from inspectors. The company is also accused of ignoring "warning signals" and having a "toxic workplace culture".
Several employees at Oceangate have come forward and confirmed the information from the coast guard. According to the report, the dismissal of older colleagues and the looming threat of being fired has been used to deter employees and contractors from raising safety issues.
