Titan (submersible)

Titan

Titan in a promotional image published by OceanGate before 2023
History
Name	Titan
Owner	OceanGate, Inc.
Operator	OceanGate, Inc.
Completed	2018
Fate	Imploded on 18 June 2023; 1 years ago
General characteristics
Class and type	Not classed
Length	6.7 m (22 ft)[1]
Beam	2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Height	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	Four Innerspace 1002 thrusters
Speed	3 knots (5.6 km/h) (max)
Endurance	96 hours (w/ 5 persons)
Test depth	Up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Capacity	5 people
Crew	1 pilot, 1 technical expert, 3 "mission specialists" (passengers)

Titan, previously called Cyclops 2, was a submersible created and operated by underwater exploration company OceanGate. It was the first privately-owned submersible with a claimed maximum depth of 4,000 m (13,000 ft),^[2] and the first completed crewed submersible with a hull constructed of titanium and carbon fiber composite materials.^[3]

After testing with dives to its maximum intended depth in 2018 and 2019, the original composite hull of Titan developed fatigue damage and was replaced by 2021.^[4][5] In that year, OceanGate began transporting paying customers to the wreck of the Titanic,^[6][7] completing several dives to the wreck site in 2021 and 2022. During the submersible's first 2023 expedition, all five occupants were killed when the vessel imploded. OceanGate lost contact with Titan on 18 June and contacted authorities later that day after the submersible was overdue for return. A massive international search and rescue operation ensued and ended on 22 June, when debris from Titan was discovered about 1,600 feet (500 metres) from the bow of the Titanic.