The US Coast Guard received “presumed human remains” and debris recovered from the seafloor at the site of the Titan submersible when the Horizon Arctic’s ROV (remotely operated vehicle) arrived in Canada’s St. John port, Newfoundland, on Wednesday.
All five people on board of the Titan sub are believed to have been killed and the US medical professionals will conduct a formal analysis of presumed human remains that have been carefully recovered within the wreckage at the site of the incident.
After consultation with international partner investigative agencies, the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) intends to transport the evidence aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter to a port in the United States, where the MBI will be able to facilitate further analysis and testing, the US Coast Guard said in its press release.
The MBI will continue evidence collection and witness interviews to inform a public hearing regarding this tragedy.
“I am grateful for the coordinated international and interagency support to recover and preserve this vital evidence at extreme offshore distances and depths,” said MBI Chair Captain Jason Neubauer.
Neubauer added that “the evidence will provide investigators from several international jurisdictions with critical insights into the cause of this tragedy. There is still a substantial amount of work to be done to understand the factors that led to the catastrophic loss of the TITAN and help ensure a similar tragedy does not occur again”.
Horizon Maritime Services and Miawpukek Horizon representatives gave a brief statement to media related to the search of the Titan Submersible, stating that: “On behalf of all of us at Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services and Horizon Maritime Services, we wish to express our deep condolences and support for the family, friends and colleagues of the Titan crew.”
The representatives also commented on the work of the crews of the Polar Prince and Horizon Arctic on the search and rescue effort, giving an emphasis on their professionalism and dedication to their work.
