Federal Fisheries Department was part of the previous Oceangate Mission
The Federal Fisheries Department is putting new lights on its ties with Oceangate, which is the American company behind the deep Titan submersible in the south of Newfoundland in 2023, killing all five people.
The department confirmed on Thursday that in summer of 2021, a staff member rode a ship “connected to Oceangate” to participate as a supervisor during a mission in Newfoundland.
“The purpose was to learn more about Oceangate,” the department said in an email.
“At the conclusion of the mission, it was determined that (Oceangate) priorities did not align with the scientific objectives of the department, and another relationship was not chased.”
No other details were provided about the journey.
Asked whether any federal employee has raised security concerns about Oceangate, the department spokesman said that the security department does not fall within the mandate of the security department for submersibles.
“The department was not involved in the risk evaluation or operational inspection of any subsequent missions,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Earlier this week, US Coast Guard released a report It concluded that the tragedy could be stopped on 18 June 2023, Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush had called for security warnings and independent inspections and authentication of submersible.
Rush was one of the people when Titan separated, as it landed near the Titanic, which was about four kilometers below the surface of the North Atlantic.
Oceangate, a private company in the state of Washington, had security procedures, “seriously flawed” and “flashing inequalities” between the security protocols and real practices, stated in the reporters’ reports.
The 300-Page report also revealed that in May 2021, the fisheries department of Canada wrote a “letter of support” to Rush, stating that the department wanted to cooperate with its company to assess its submersible for scientific research.
Only some parts of the letter were included in the Coast Guard Report.
The fisheries department sent a copy of the letter on Wednesday, as well as a statement that suggested that its initial discussion with Oceangate was regular.
A spokesperson said in an email on Wednesday, “Fishing and ocean Canada (DFO) regularly expresses interest in scientific cooperation with a variety of potential partners.”
“In early 2021, DFO had a series of searching discussions with Oceangate. (May 2021) the letter was sent to summarize the discussions that began in 2021 to work with the department, which began in 2021, so that its marine research systems could be determined.”
The letter dated on May 19, 2021 makes it clear that the department officials were willing to work with Rush and his team.
“The DFO Maritimes Area is pleased with the discussion with Oceangate, offering to participate in 2021, and the unique opportunities being offered to Canadian scientists and conservation efforts.”
The letter also mentions possible funding from Ottawa.
The department spokesperson also confirmed in Wednesday’s email that a staff member board was discussed on the Titanic campaign, about 700 km south of Newfoundland. But he said that this never happened.
The department did not say that the relationship with Oceangate was eventually abolished or its cooperation on any other vessel was not mentioned until the next day was pressed for the details.
In addition to the DFO’s support letter in 2021, the investigation of the American Coast Guard found no evidence of any real cooperation or money.
Submersible’s transplant also killed French explorer Paul-Henry Narzolat, British adventurer Hamish Harding and two members of a leading Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleiman Dawood.
In June, Canada’s Transport Safety Board said the independent agency had completed its investigation report, which was being reviewed at that time.
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