inside submarine yacht

LST - Limo Sub Tender

• Kokomo Ailand

Migaloo - the future of yachting

Extraordinary experiences for extraordinary owner

Selection of latest news.

MIGALOO M5 - 165 M Private Submersible Superyacht

Length overall: 165.8 m Beam: 23.0 m Draft: 8.6 m Range: approx. 15.000 km Submerged duration: approx. 4 weeks Depth: approx. 250 m

Press Coverage Overview

Migaloo M5 Private submersible fortress - the future of protection

MIGALOO Private Submersible Superyachts cooperates with SAFE , offering ultimate and uncompromising protection for the Owners peace of mind.

Beyond Military grade protection for the Owner, the guests and any valuables onboard.

SAFE provides customized security systems using advanced technology for early threat detection, swift client isolation and thorough mitigation.

With 50 years of success, SAFE has safeguarded high-profile clients, governments, residences, and headquarters globally. Its expert team delivers tailored security solutions, staying ahead with the latest technologies to set industry standards and surpass client expectations.

A submersible superyacht represents the pinnacle of personal expression. Offering unmatched privacy and security, it caters to those with a passion for exploration and seeking extraordinary experiences. MIGALOO stands as the future of yachting, redefining luxury and adventure for its owner and guests.

Statement of Christian Gumpold, CEO and founder of MIGALOO:

" We believe that Submersible Superyachts are the future of yachting.

The needs of Superyacht Owners for their vessels are more complex than ever. These wishes do not just include performance, length or design. Owners are looking for privacy , security and protection for themselves, their guests and their valuables, or for the fulfillment of unique experiences up to scientific desires as well as for the greatest possible exclusivity and limitation ."

THE MIGALOO FLEET

Private Submersible Superyachts

MIGALOO PRIVATE SUBMARINES

MIGALOO Private Submersible Superyachts   offer ultimate experiences, safety and exclusivity.

MIGALOO LST - Limo Sub Tender

Travel, explore or transfer  as well as submerged docking - in total privacy.

Private Islands

MIGALOO KOKOMO AILAND

The Private Floating Habitat   based on Semi-Submerisble Platforms acts as a private island.

MIGALOOs' vision is to develop the most extraordinary designs above and below the waterline - for visionary and innovative Owner

“They did not know it was impossible so they did it”

• Nach oben scrollen

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Tour the World’s Most Luxurious Submarine Superyacht

If yacht owners really want to put everyone at port to shame, they should consider sailing on the Migaloo Private Submersible Yacht. A concept yacht created by Migaloo, an Austrian design and engineering firm, the line of luxury superyachts offers a range of bespoke underwater crafts that vary in size. After sailing the new Migaloo submersible yacht on the water, owners can close up the decks and turn the craft into a fully operational submarine.

“What we are attempting to do is to create a living space where exterior and interior interact in harmony,” says Christian Gumpold, managing director and head of design at Migaloo. With rooms that open to the ocean for dining alfresco while above water, and large viewing galleries for taking in the marine life when submersed, the Migaloo creates that harmony. What’s more, the firm reaffirms its focus on luxury with optional amenities that include helipads, swimming pools, movie theaters, elevators, wine cellars, libraries, and private terraces.

The Migaloo submersible yacht moving underwater.

Of course, safety is a major focal point as well. Each superyacht will be built to U.S. Navy SUBSAFE safety standards, which ensure that the interiors will stay watertight and the vessel can recover from unanticipated flooding. According to Migaloo, solitude is a major point of interest for yacht owners, which is why the ability to dive beneath the surface and out of view might have great appeal. “Privacy is a big issue on superyachts,” says Gumpold, “our answer to this concern is simply submerging the vessel into complete privacy.”

As the world prepares to coin its first trillionaire the $2 billion Migaloo M5 super submarine superyacht surfaces into the limelight. Longer than Jeff Bezos’ Koru it can stay underwater for 4 weeks, it has a swimming pool, cinema, helipad and its own hot air balloon.

You may also like

Named after a legendary Japanese samurai, Larry Ellison’s $130 million superyacht Musashi is a stunning work of art in itself. An early investor in Tesla the centibillionaire’s 288 feet yacht has a basketball court, a humungous beach club, and a glass staircase with illuminated steps.

After 18 grueling months, the crew of the abandoned Alfa Nero and its sister superyacht, the Luminosity—both allegedly owned by sanctioned billionaire Andrey Guryev—will receive their pre-sanction salaries.

After seizing it last year, Credit Suisse has finally sold Saudi Prince Fahad Bin Sultan’s seized $65 million superyacht

Tax payers of the tiny nation of Antigua are relived as the abandoned Alfa Nero superyacht is sold to a secretive Turkish billionaire and they no longer have to foot the $100,000 monthly maintenance bill of the 269 foot long vessel.

Electrified and bleeding cool – A Nike designer imagines what a Tesla football shoe would be like

After it crashed and damaged the shipyard, Lurssen’s $450 million superyacht codenamed ‘Project Alibaba’ has been unveiled to the world.

Not for Wimps gamers-only flight concept on show at Germany’s Aircraft Interiors Expo

A mystery billionaire loved his dog so much that he installed a smart buoy on his superyacht, so he could steer it remotely and swiftly rescue his pet’s life in case it went overboard. His 197-foot vessel is also the world’s first to have a dedicated area for the dog to ‘relieve’ itself.

New Sovereign 100 meter superyacht launched by Gray Design

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

SeaXplorer 105: Inside the 105m luxury expedition yacht complete with two helicopters and a submarine

Damen Yachting has revealed the 105m SeaXplorer 105 luxury expedition yacht design, complete with a weathertight double hangar for two helicopters.

The largest in Damen Yachting’s SeaXplorer range, the SeaXplorer 105 is described as an evolution of the SeaXplorer 90, 95 and 100 designs.

Exterior design comes from Azure Yacht Design while the naval architecture has been handled in-house. The custom interior design will be chosen by the owner.

The luxury expedition yacht is packed with standout explorer yacht features, including a carrying capacity for a 13-metre chase boat and four additional tenders measuring between 8 and 12 metres. All will be stored in the forward garage and tender bays.

Among the fleet of toys on board is a submarine for underwater adventures. The SeaXplorer 105 also includes a scuba dive deck and watersports centre.

The hull is set to be built to Polar Class 7 ice strengthening for peace of mind in icy waters while the large rubbish stores and greywater tanks will ensure zero-discharge operations for long periods between port stops. The hybrid diesel-electric pod propulsion means this yacht will comply with IMO Polar Code category B regulations for polar safety and environmental protection, while also providing a top speed of 16 knots and trans-Pacific range of 8,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.

One standout feature is the fully certified twin helideck, suitable for two twin-engine helicopters. Stored in a weathertight double hangar, the helicopters will be kept safe from the elements and ensure the yacht reaches regulations in Antarctica that require a superyacht to carry two helicopters for flying longer distances, such as into the mountains for heliskiing.

The “true luxury expedition-sized” 6,500GT interior volume will include living areas of 5,775 square metres spread across eight decks. Accommodation will be for a total of 24 guests, including two sumptuous owner’s suites, as well as a crew of 29 and 12 additional staff.

Built under PYC rules, the SeaXplorer 105 will be fully certified for charter.

Elsewhere, the interior will feature a 123 square metre observation lounge with a bar and multimedia centre, as well as a massive 300 square metre “SeaXplorer spa” on the main deck. The spa will include a comprehensive range of facilities including an indoor eight-metre swimming pool, gym with folding terrace, whirlpool, steam room and sauna. A folding terrace, massage room, hairdresser and beauty salon will also be included.

Speaking about the design, SeaXplorer design manager Enrique Tintores said: “The SeaXplorer 105 is a fully developed design. However, the scope for client customisation is massive – that’s a key part of our proposition throughout the design process.”

The SeaXplorer 105 design reveal follows the launch and delivery of the 77m SeaXplorer expedition superyacht La Datcha , which is currently undertaking a global charter itinerary managed by Edmiston. 

More stories

Most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

Nautilus VAS Submarine - Underwater Luxury

By B. Roberts

Superyachts are able to journey over oceans to the farthest reaches of the globe; now the new Nautilus VAS private submersible offers the opportunity to travel to the greatest depths in complete luxury.

As marine technology advances, the luxury market will always rise to meet it, equipping superyachts with the finest machinery available. Designed by the US-based Nautilus Submarines & Diving Systems to a ‘Military Grade’ construction, the VAS Private Submersible offers superyacht owners a chance to journey underwater in pure comfort.

With lines that resemble a classic Bond vehicle, the Nautilus VAS is the only private submarine that hosts a toilet, stairs, minibar, digital video and music players with enough head room to stand up freely. The Nautilus VAS is priced at €2 million, giving the opportunity for superyacht owners to pair travel and exploration.

The Nautilus VAS will be able to view the marine world from a comfortable position. Vision from inside the submarine will be wide scale and crystal clear, using large, flat distortion-free optics.

The Nautilus VAS Mk. III is able to hold five passengers and can achieve around 6 knots alongside the ability to stay underwater for four days. The VAS is also equipped with a diver lockout station, allowing for passengers to disembark for a more personal underwater expedition.

More news from

Related news.

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Disneyland Resort
• Ka La’I Wakiki Beach
• Kalamazoo Grill
• Raffles Hotels & Resorts
• Tributary Idaho
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

This Superyacht Is Submersible

Migaloo’s 443-foot m5 takes you and 11 of your best friends deep under the sea., geri ward's most recent stories.

• From a Hybrid Gigayacht to a Go-Fast Tender, Here Are the Best Vessels of the Year
• How Ferraris and Lamborghinis Inspired This New Line of Italian Yachts
• Inside the 161-Foot Italian Superyacht Designed for a Multi-Generational Family
• Share This Article

If you’re going for the ultimate deep-sea fantasy, you could choose from a wide variety of personal subs . But when you tire of the limitations of single-passenger submersibles, it’s probably time to choose a luxury submarine worthy of a James Bond movie. Austrian company Migaloo calls its 443-foot M5 a “private submersible yacht,” mainly because it truly is an underwater superyacht .

Related Stories

• One of the Most Powerful Jaguars of All Time Is up for Auction Right Now
• McLaren’s Next Supercar Is Coming Next Month

Four Seasons Yachts Wants to Take You to the Caribbean for the Holidays

Imagine dining, lounging, or cocktailing in a full-glass room surrounded by deep-blue ocean and hundreds of fish, taking an under-the-sea spin on the M5’s two mini-subs, or using the outdoor pool/Jacuzzi and beach club while the M5 is floating on the surface.

This James Bond dream boat also includes a helipad, a garage for tenders and toys, a cinema room, gym, spa, wine cellar, library, several bars with windows to the sea, and, of course, a game room. The ultimate submarine can be designed to any owner’s specific tastes. One configuration has a 32,300-square-foot owner’s apartment on three decks, all connected by an elevator, with a private exterior balcony. There are also six VIP guest staterooms.

The hull will have an acrylic pressure hull design—built to U.S. Navy submarine standards—with multiple MTU generators and lithium batteries. Migaloo says the construction techniques and materials will make the M5 safe and spacious, accommodating two owners and 12 guests, with 19 crew, for a total of 32 people. Guests can leave their Dramamine and Sea-Bands behind. Because this private submersible yacht runs beneath the water’s surface, motion sickness is not an issue. And the Migaloo M5 is capable of staying submerged for several weeks. Hopefully you are, too. Oh, wait, the M5 is not big enough for you? Migaloo’s M7 extends to 928 feet.

Read More On:

• Submersible

More Marine

This New 454-Foot Gigayacht Concept Comes With a Bonkers Underwater Lounge

How Don Johnson Channeled His Love for the Water Into a New TV Series

Meet GX Superyachts, a New Shipyard Creating Custom Hybrids Ranging From 78 to 164 Feet

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Inspire Superyacht Concept in Photos

The GX Superyachts Range in Photos

More from our brands, wwd time capsule: how alessandro michele’s ‘expressive freedom’ brought gucci back, reinsdorf digging in as white sox lose 121st game to pass ’62 mets, remembering maggie smith, whose biting wit deliciously improved with age, richard mayhew, abstract artist who painted hazy visions of the world around us, dies at 100, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

65m Luxury Undersea Yacht Phoenix 1000 by US Submarines

• Inspiration

Related News

Popular news this week, popular news this month, latest news.

• Yacht Charter & Superyacht News >

Written by Zuzana Bednarova

65m undersea superyacht Phoenix 1000 is a personal luxury submarine built by US Submarines. Submarine yacht Phoenix 1000 is the single largest private undersea vehicle ever built, and probably one of the most important personal transportation devices of the century.

US Submarines Phoenix 1000 submarine

213´ luxury submarine yacht Phoenix 1000 has more than ample space. The total interior area of the submarine is in excess of 460 square meters (5000 square feet). The significant volume, coupled with very large acrylic viewports, and the potential for relatively large open spaces, results in a vehicle as luxurious as the finest of motor yachts.

Clearly, underwater super yacht Phoenix 1000 provides its owner with substantially more capability than a simple yacht – the opportunity to explore the depths of the world’s oceans in perfect comfort and safety. The Phoenix 1000 yacht is capable of making trans-Atlantic crossings at 16 knots yet can dive along the route and explore the continental margins of some of the most fascinating waters on earth.

US Submarines Phoenix 1000

And unlike surface yachts, when the water gets rough, the submarine can submerge into a perfectly smooth and quiet environment, continuing on toward its destination, providing a ride unsurpassed in quality-unequaled by the finest motor coach or the most luxurious executive aircraft.

At 65-meters (213 feet) in overall length, and with a beam in excess of 8 meters (26 feet), the Phoenix 1000 is a vehicle of formidable size. Yet despite its 1500-ton displacement, the submarine is quite streamlined. Given the significant waterplane area and ample internal volume, which allows for greater battery storage, the Phoenix 1000 yacht will out-perform smaller counterparts in surface speed, submerged speed and submerged endurance.

Phoenix 1000 luxury submarine

The large pressure hull diameter allows for very large acrylic viewports, making the undersea viewing capability truly extraordinary. The interior space, with the noted absence of structural bulkheads, provides for tremendous versatility in interior layout and space planning. And finally, the Phoenix 1000’s large size coupled with its integrated roll stabilization system makes surface transit quite comfortable in all but the worst conditions.

Flying Bridge

The uppermost level of the vessel is the flying bridge. This area is similar to its equivalent area on most yachts, with the exception of the fact that the materials selected are subject to immersion in water. Ample space exists for lounging, and cushions may be brought up from the area below. The flying bridge also houses the pressure-compensated radar radome, GPS antennae and satellite communications radome, as well as radio aerials, running lights, etc. A remote steering station is also available.

Luxurious interior of the Phoenix 1000 undersea superyacht

Deck Saloon

Immediately below the flying bridge and accessible through a large hydraulically operated hatch and a stairway, is the deck saloon. As proposed, this area would be composed of structural acrylic cylindrical sections 2.1 meters (7′) in diameter and 20 centimeters (8″) in thickness. The overall length of the deck saloon pressure hull would be 12 meters.

The deck saloon would have a comfortably appointed interior and would boast an incredible view for observation, both on the surface and when submerged. By fitting transparent sections into the deck of the flying bridge, a view above can be enjoyed as well.

In the forward portion of the saloon is the surface bridge. This area contains all the necessary control, monitoring and navigation equipment to operate the submarine in the surfaced condition. The captain has a hemispherical sector acrylic viewport immediately in front, with the transparent cylindrical walls to either side.

The aft portion of the saloon has a large acrylic window, providing a view astern that also acts as a large hydraulically operated hatch. A small automobile could be kept in the aft section if desired.

Superstructure

The superstructure itself is composed principally of aluminum (or FRP if the owner prefers), and it houses the deck saloon pressure vessel and also provides the structural base for the flying bridge. There is a large degree of latitude possible with regard to the styling of the structure, with the caveat that its hydrodynamic efficiency will have a significant effect on the submerged speed of the submarine.

Aft of the deck saloon is a covered space that can be either fully or partially enclosed. The greater the degree of closure to the after portion of the structure, the less turbulence and the more hydromdynamic efficiency. Hydraulically actuated after doors could be designed to open, allowing fresh air to circulate. The area would be excellent for covered, informal, deck-level dining.

Docking Minisub

Aft of the superstructure, or optionally, above the control cabin on the bow, is an area for a docking minisub. Utilizing a special docking collar, this vehicle is capable of leaving the Phoenix 1000 superyacht while submerged and making excursions down to 610 meters (2000 feet). With both top and bottom hatches, the minisub could also bring passengers from the surface to the submarine lying at depth. The minisub could be designed to hold between two and eight passengers, depending upon the owner’s preferences. Additionally, in the unlikely event of an emergency at depth, the minisub could be used to take passengers and crew to the surface.

Forward Control Room

The forward control room is entered from the main deck through a watertight, pressure-proof door. The control room has a 2.4 meter (8′) diameter hemispherical sector acrylic viewport forward and three 1.8 meter (6′) diameter viewports on either side, with the foremost pair angled slightly forward.

The control room contains all of the control and navigation equipment necessary to operate the submarine while submerged. The 8 meter x 4 meter (26′ x 13′) area contains sufficient space to fit comfortable lounge chairs for passenger observation while underway.

Main Passenger Areas

The main passenger area consists of two decks, each 31 meters (102′) long and 6 meters (20′) wide. The upper deck is accessed from one of two hatches, either from the deck saloon or from a hatch to the after portion of the superstructure. Two stairways, one in the center of the deck, the other in the after section, lead to the lower deck.

The upper deck is intended to provide space for an engineering workstation, a switch and contactor room, crew cabins and mess, as well as the galley. The forward portion, which ends at a bulkhead, is designed as a room of the owner’s choosing.

The main deck is situated such that the forward portion, with eight 1.8 meter (6′) diameter acrylic windows, contains the living and dining areas, while the section aft of the beam houses the owner’s stateroom and guest cabins. Five viewports, 90 centimeters (35″) in diameter, are situated on both port and starboard sides.

Below the passenger area is the battery compartment and bilge. A narrow manway allows access through the compartment for battery maintenance.

Engine Room

The engine room is accessed through doors at the after portion of both passenger decks. The space contains the majority of the equipment necessary for the submarine’s operation, including the main diesels, motor generators, drive systems, air compressors, hydraulic aggregates and life support systems. The upper level of the engine space provides access to the minisub, and in the stern section, to a diver lock-out chamber. The bottom level allows maintenance of the main engines and related components. Diver Lock-out Chamber

A spherical diver lock-out chamber, 2.4 meters (8′) in diameter is fitted above the shafts and attached to the aftermost section of the pressure hull. The chamber allows a diver to enter or exit the submarine from the area between the shafts at depths of up to 45 meters (150′). The chamber can be fitted with decompression capability if required.

General Specifications of the 65m luxury undersea superyacht Phoenix 1000:

Certification: ABS+A1 Manned Submersible Operating Depth: 305 meters Passengers: varies (470 sq m interior) Crew: 3 Length: 65.0 meters (213′) Beam: 8.0 meters (26.3′) Pressure Hull Diameter: 6.7 meters (22′) center Weight in Air: 1500 tons

Dynamic Characteristics Maximum Surface Speed: 18.0 knots Cruising Surface Speed: 16.0 knots Max. Submerged Speed: 10.0 knots

Propulsion Surface Diesels: 2 x 1100 kW Main Electric Motor/Generators: 2 x 370 kW Vertical Thrusters: 2 x 110 kW Lateral Thrusters: 2 x 410 kW

Endurance (Predicted) Surface Range: 3500 nautical miles Submerged Endurance: 6 hours at 10 knots/50 hours at 5 knots/140 hours at 2.5 knots

Battery and Electrical Systems Main Battery: 360 VDC Communication Battery: 24 VDC Control Battery: 24 VDC Emergency Battery: 24 VDC Total Battery Capacity: 3280 KWH Electric Generator: 2 x 370 kW

Ballast and Trim Systems Main Ballast Capacity: 340,000 KG Variable Ballast: 18,000 KG Trim/Dropweight: 9,000 KG trim/135,000 KG drop

Gas Supply Main Oxygen: 30 days, full load Reserve Oxygen: 10 days Main Air: 275 bar, external Air Compressor: 310 bar, 150 kW Navigation and Communications Compass Main: Gyro compass Compass reserve: Fluxgate Speed Log: Digital Depth Gauge: 400 meter, analog and digital Active Sonar: Color Imaging Surface Communications: Marine VHF Subsurface UWT: 10 and 27 KHZ

Additional Instrumentation Custom Control LCDs: Ballast Indicators Thruster Control Panel: Hydraulic Panel F-16 Style Joystick: Hydraulic Pressure RPM Gauge: Depth Sounder CRT Rudder Indicator: Video Camera System Life Support Panel: Video Monitors Oxygen Gauges: Electrical Panel Oxygen Analyzer: Volt andAmp Meters Carbon Dioxide Monitor: IR andCircuit Protection Alarm Panel: Lighting Panel Interlock Indicators: Clock Flammable Gas Monitor: Barometer/Hygrometer Fire Suppression System: Inclinometers Ballast Panel: Thermometer Air Pressure Gauges

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "65m Luxury Undersea Yacht Phoenix 1000 by US Submarines".

• Charity & Fund Raising
• CharterWorld News
• Classic Yachts
• Coronavirus
• Cruise Ship
• Ecological Yachts
• Expedition Yachts
• Expert Broker Advice
• Feature Superyachts
• Interior Design
• Legal & VAT Yacht Issues
• Luxury Catamarans
• Luxury Gulet
• Luxury Phinisi
• Luxury Trimarans
• Luxury Yacht Design
• Luxury Yachts
• Marinas & Harbours
• Marine Ecology
• Marine Electronics
• Marine Equipment
• Mega Yachts
• Modern Yachts
• Motor Yachts
• New Launch Yachts
• New To Charter
• Open Style Sports Yachts
• Private Jets
• Sailing Yachts
• Social Media
• Sports Yachts
• Superyacht Crew
• Superyacht Photographers
• Superyacht Products & Supplies
• Superyacht Refits
• Superyacht Reviews
• Superyachts
• Uncategorized
• Yacht Builders
• Yacht Charter
• Yacht Charter Destinations
• Yacht Charter Picks
• Yacht Charter Specials
• Yacht Delivered to Owner
• Yacht Designers
• Yacht Events & Boat Shows
• Yacht Fashion
• Yacht Industry News
• Yacht Photos
• Yacht Racing
• Yacht Racing & Regattas
• Yacht Safety Equipment
• Yacht Support Vessels
• Yacht Tenders
• Yacht Videos
• Yachting Associations
• Yachting Awards
• Yachting Business
• Yachts For Charter
• Yachts For Sale

Quick Enquiry

Superyacht news:.

Email Your Yachting News to: news @ charterworld.com

New Outer Reef “Explorer Series” presented by Setzer Yacht Architects

ISS Design Awards 2014 Finalists

Cantiere delle Marche to launch new Darwin Class 102’ Yacht this month

Marlow Explorer 88E Motor Yacht Hull #1 to make her debut at Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show

35m motor yacht VIVERE offering charter special between December and April with 10% off in the Bahamas or Florida

YACHT REVIEW: 50m Feadship superyacht REVERIE

Feadship unveils groundbreaking CONCEPT C at the Monaco Yacht Show

Superyacht PROJECT MONTE CARLO: Heesen unveil their brand new 62m yacht project

Lürssen’s 142-meter superyacht ALIBABA has returned from her sea trials

How to choose the perfect yacht for the luxury charter of lifetime

Thanksgiving special offer on board 37m superyacht TEMPTATION

First look at 42m sailing yacht WILDCAT from Turquoise Yachts

10 sensational superyachts with spectacular swimming pools

Latest Amels superyacht AMELS 6006 completes her first sea trials

45m custom superyacht SAN will debut at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show

43m custom Cantiere delle Marche explorer yacht BABBO is christened and delivered to her owner

31m luxury yacht CARPE DIEM available for charter in the Bahamas

Inaugural CROYA Charter Show announced for 4th to 6th October 2024 in Split, Croatia

Luxury yacht WW available for charter around New Zealand’s stunning coastline

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Titan Sub Tragedy: Coast Guard Hearings Reveal New Insights

Contrary to public reports last year, the passengers probably had no idea that the vessel was about to implode.

By William J. Broad

Over the past two weeks, the Coast Guard has held hearings on how the Titan, a privately owned submersible vessel that imploded 15 months ago at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean, resulted in the deaths of the five people inside.

The Coast Guard has posted videos of Titan wreckage two miles beneath the water’s surface, as well as a detailed log of communications between the craft and its mother ship, scores of documents, and the recorded testimony of more than two dozen witnesses, including former employees of the sub’s maker, OceanGate.

The emerging evidence has provided answers or tentative answers to six questions that have haunted the unique tragedy.

Had OceanGate employees sounded any alarms?

Many, it turns out. David Lochridge, a former director of marine operations at OceanGate, testified that the company’s ethos centered on making money. OceanGate charged adventurers up to $250,000 to see the wreckage of the Titanic up close, but offered little by way of serious engineering for safe products. “It was all smoke and mirrors,” Mr. Lochridge said of the company’s operations. He said he was fired in 2018 after raising safety concerns.

Tony Nissen, a former engineering director at the company, said he had told Stockton Rush, an OceanGate founder, in 2019 that the craft was “not working like we thought it would.” As a result, the engineer kept the submersible from making a dive to the Titanic ruins that year. Then he was fired.

Phil Brooks, who became the company’s engineering leader in 2021, said OceanGate’s financial woes contributed to his decision to leave the company just months before the Titan and its crew were lost. “The company was economically very stressed,” he testified . As a result, he added, safety was “being compromised.”

What did the recovery teams find?

Four days after the Titan went missing, the controllers of a tethered robot were scanning the muddy seabed when a tangle of debris — including the submersible’s rear dome and part of its shattered fiber hull — came into view.

“This video,” the Coast Guard wrote , “led to conclusive evidence of the catastrophic loss of the Titan and the death of all five members aboard.”

The search teams proceeded to map out an enormous debris field, measuring some 1,000 feet long and 450 feet wide. Its great size indicated that Titan’s implosion — a swift collapse caused by the deep ocean’s crushing pressure — led to an extraordinarily explosive rebound.

An eerie second video showed the submersible’s tail cone sitting on the seabed intact. Unlike the hollow main hull, the tail’s interior space was open to seawater and thus did not implode.

The hearing’s opening report said presumed human remains were taken to a military base that “positively identified DNA profiles for the five victims.”

Did the voyagers understand the risks of the trip?

Yes and no. OceanGate’s four-page liability waiver pulled no punches. The word “death” appeared nine times, “injury” 10 times and “risk” 17 times. The disclaimer warned of “pain, suffering, illness, disfigurement, temporary or permanent disability (including paralysis), economic or emotional loss, and death.”

“I knew the risk that I was taking, and still decided to go,” Renata Rojas, an experienced scuba diver who traveled in the Titan in 2022 to see the Titanic, testified at the hearing .

But other witnesses said the public at large did not understand the significance of Titan’s lack of safety certification , which made it unique among deep submersibles. Thousands of other vessels, subs and offshore rigs have received such accreditation from marine groups that set industry standards , including proven ways to withstand the ocean’s pressures.

Did the voyagers realize anything had gone wrong?

No, according to the hearing’s initial report and subsequent testimony. The report said crew members sent “no transmissions which indicated trouble or any emergency.” That contradicted what turned out to be a fake communications log that circulated online last year and told of a heart-pounding crisis in which the five voyagers struggled in vain to return to the surface.

News and social media outlets had also quoted top experts who argued that the Titan’s last-minute drop of weights indicated that the crew members knew they were in mortal danger. That claim also appears in the $50 million lawsuit brought in August against OceanGate by the family of Paul-Henri Nargeolet , one of the five victims.

Tym Catterson, a former contractor for OceanGate, testified that he was certain the two dropped weights, totaling just 70 pounds out of hundreds that Titan carried, had been jettisoned to achieve neutral buoyancy — that is, the ability to float effortlessly underwater, not sinking or rising. He said that state of weightlessness helped the craft to better control its movements as it neared the seabed, not to begin an emergency rush to the surface.

Mr. Catterson added that the deep voyagers “had no idea” they faced an imminent implosion. “Nobody was suffering in there,” he said.

Why did Titan implode?

That’s the hardest question, and it probably won’t be fully answered until the Coast Guard makes its official accident report public, which may not happen until next year.

Critics had long faulted Titan’s design as a maverick approach that featured many departures from proven submersible designs. Whereas other submersibles typically held just three passengers, Titan’s pill-shaped fiber hull held five, a financial advantage for OceanGate.

Mr. Catterson, the former OceanGate contractor, offered one accident scenario. The ocean’s crushing pressures, he said, could have forced Titan’s hull to bend ever so slightly in the middle, causing its ends to pull back from the metallic end domes and weaken the glue joint with each dive. Eventually, he said, the mounting stresses gave way to the implosion.

Donald Kramer, a materials engineer with the National Transportation Safety Board, testified to a different problem. He said the carbon fiber hull had many imperfections, including pores, voids and wrinkles that weakened the protective structure.

What impact could the hearings have?

In a news conference the day before the hearings started, Jason Neubauer, the lead investigator, called the proceedings a critical step to understand what contributed to the tragedy and, more important, “the actions needed to prevent a similar occurrence.”

The first-of-its-kind disaster has forced a global rethinking of how to safely explore the deep ocean. It may lead to regulatory reform, such as the mandatory institution of safety certification for deep submersibles.

William J. Broad has reported on science at The Times since 1983. He is based in New York. More about William J. Broad