Titan (submersible)
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 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Unclassed submersible |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 6.7 m (22 ft) |
| Beam | 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion | 4 × Innerspace 1002 electric thrusters |
| Speed | 3 knots (5.6 km/h) (max) |
| Endurance | 96 hours (w/ 5 people) |
| Test depth | Up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) |
| Capacity | 5 people |
| Crew | 1 pilot, 1 technical expert, 3 passengers |
Titan, previously named Cyclops 2, was a submersible created and operated by the American underwater-tourism company OceanGate. It was the first privately-owned submersible with a claimed maximum depth of 4,000 meters, and the first completed crewed submersible with a hull constructed of titanium and carbon fiber composite materials.
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. In that year, OceanGate began transporting paying customers to the wreck of the Titanic, 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 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bow of Titanic.