The Polar Prince is seen here towing out the Titan submersible in St. John’s harbour, in what may be one of the last photos of the vessel before this week’s tragic, final descent. (Kenneth Sharpe/CBC)
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it’s launching an investigation into the operation of the Titan submersible by the Polar Prince support vessel off the coast of Newfoundland near the wreckage of the Titanic.
In a media release issued shortly after 4 p.m. NT on Friday, the TSB said the investigation is “in accordance with the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and international agreements.”
As the investigative authority of Canadian vessels, the TSB said it will conduct “a safety investigation regarding the circumstances of this operation conducted by the Canadian-flagged vessel Polar Prince.”
A team of TSB investigators is in to St. John’s to gather information, conduct interviews and assess the fatal incident that claimed all five lives of the crew members on board the Titan.
“In the coming days, we will co-ordinate our activities with other agencies involved,” the TSB wrote in its release. “This is all the information available at this time. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
Heading home
All Canadian rescue vessels involved in the search for the lost submersible Titan are now returning to base, after coming to the conclusion on Thursday that the sub and its five crew were lost.
It’s now time for those four Canadian ships to “regenerate search and rescue capability and prepare for future search and rescue events,” reads a statement from the Joint Rescue Command Centre.
The Polar Prince — a Newfoundland vessel tasked with towing the Titan submersible out to sea last weekend — is also coming home, after a harrowing week searching around the Titanic wreckage site.
It had also been carrying family members of some of the five missing crew.
The vessel is majority owned by Miawpukek Horizon, a company founded by the Miawpukek First Nation.
Miawpukek First Nation Chief Mi’sel Joe says he wanted to be close to the search. He’s pictured here speaking to reporters at a news conference Wednesday at the waterfront in St. John’s. (CBC)
“It’s going to be rough on the [Polar Prince crew],” said Miawpukek Chief Mi’sel Joe on Friday. “They’re looking after the ship, they’re looking after themselves and they’re looking after the family that’s on board. My heart goes out to them. To all of them. It’s a loss of life, and it’s never easy on family.”
The U.S. coast guard believes the debris field for the Titan was found within 200 metres of the Titanic. It believes the submersible imploded under the pressure of the water on its way down, killing the five men instantly.
“The extent of Canadian assistance with recovery and salvage is currently being discussed,” reads the JRCC statement.
Pain is personal for Mi’kmaq chief
Joe understands the pain more than most. He lost his eight-year-old son in a drowning incident 53 years ago. Joe travelled to St. John’s this week to be close to the search, and couldn’t help but feel the pain of his own loss decades ago.
“I had a feeling of sadness. Heart-wrenching sadness for the family that was out there, and the family that was waiting for them to come home,” he said. “I know how that feels.”
Joe was supposed to be on the Titan for a previous expedition, but had to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He told CBC News he wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to withstand eight hours crammed inside the small seven-metre submersible, where crew members couldn’t even stand up.
“Now at this stage, I’m thanking my lucky stars that I didn’t do it,” he said.
TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.
The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.
It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.
The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.
That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.
Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.
