The family of Mr. Titanic is suing for damages.
The "Titanic" expedition disaster with five fatalities gripped the world last summer. The relatives of "Mr. Titanic" Nargeolet are now demanding multi-million dollar compensation from the company Oceangate, accusing them of withholding information.
The family of Frenchman Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who died near the "Titanic" wreck, is seeking more than $50 million (around €45.7 million) in damages from the operator of the sunken submersible. The company, Oceangate, allegedly failed to disclose crucial facts about the experimental submersible "Titan," according to the family's lawyers in an email. They claim that the company acted negligently.
Lawyers say "Titan" had a "troubled history" and that many details about its flaws and inadequacies were deliberately concealed from Nargeolet. Oceangate declined to comment on the lawsuit filed on Tuesday (local time) in the U.S. state of Washington.
The five-member crew of "Titan" was on their way to the wreck of the luxury liner "Titanic" at a depth of 3,800 meters when contact with the support ship was lost in mid-June 2023. After a days-long search that captivated the world, the coast guard found debris from the submersible on the ocean floor, about 300 meters from the "Titanic" wreck. Experts believe "Titan" imploded, and none of the passengers survived.
Inventor refuses routine checks
After the disaster, concerns were raised about whether "Titan," due to its unconventional design and its inventor's refusal to submit to industry-standard tests, was doomed from the start. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the case, with a public hearing scheduled for September.
Nargeolet, known as "Mr. Titanic," was considered one of the world's leading experts on the wreck, having visited it multiple times. He was the director of underwater research for the salvage company RMS Titanic and, according to his lawyers, an experienced underwater researcher who would not have participated in the "Titan" expedition if Oceangate had been transparent. One of the goals of the lawsuit, said lawyer Tony Buzbee, is to "get answers for the family about exactly how this happened, who was involved, and how those involved let this happen."
The family's lawyers denote the company's actions as "unfortunate" and a violation of their client's trust. The design of "Titan" and its inventor's reluctance to undergo routine checks have become subject to scrutiny, with some questioning if these factors contributed to the disaster's occurrence.
