Updated 05:18 | Published at 05:08
Canadian authorities have begun the investigation into the accident of the mini-submarine Titan on its way down to the Titanic wreck in the Atlantic. On Saturday, investigators boarded the companion ship Polar Prince.
The Canadian-flagged companion ship Polar Price towed the submarine Titan to the descent site in the North Atlantic.
41 people were on board when it left port on 16 June: 17 crew members and 24 passengers, including the submarine expedition crew.
On Saturday, the ship was back in port in Saint John’s on the Canadian island of Newfoundland.
– Our mandate is to find out what happened and why and to find out what needs to be changed to reduce the chance or risk of such events in the future, says the Canaanite accident commission president Kathy Fox.
At the same time, shipping authorities are searching the bottom of the North Atlantic where the wreckage from the ship was found on Thursday at a depth of just over 3,800 meters, about 500 meters from the Titanic wreck that the expedition was supposed to explore.
The findings indicate that the vessel suffered a “catastrophic implosion”, according to the US Coast Guard.
All five on board perished.
– We know that everyone wants answers, especially the families and the public, says Kathy Fox.
The accident investigation can take between 18 months and two years.
Canadian police have also launched a preliminary investigation to investigate whether a crime may have been committed.