TSB launching investigation into Polar Prince, support vessel for Titan submersible
Investigators in St. John's conducting interviews
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.
"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.
With files from The St. John's Morning Show