07/07/2023
*** (copy-paste text version) ***
OCEANGATE “LEAKED” TITAN COMS
LOG FROM THE SUBMERSIBLE’S DIVE
TO THE TITANIC WRECK SITE
—Location: 41°43′32″N 49°56′49″W
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Sunday, 18 June 2023
7:52 a.m. EDT, Titan submersible begins dive to the Titanic with five people on board.
9:57 a.m. EDT, Coms and the underwater acoustic positioning system simultaneously cease.
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Prepared by William Castronuovo
The Washington Reader
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The origin of this so called “leaked” transcript has yet to be confirmed. However, there are those who have been associated with OceanGate dive expeditions who say that the wording, writing and style in the transcript is familiar. The text apparently reflects what was occurring during the Titan’s 1 hour, 45 minute dive to the RMS Titanic wreck site. The U.S. Coast Guard says it does have a copy of the transcript for their investigation. OceanGate Expeditions was contacted on June 30, 2023 for confirmation of the log’s authenticity. OceanGate Expeditions would not respond.
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Polar Prince, Titan submersible’s
mother ship. Port of Registry: St. John’s,
Newfoundland, Canada
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OceanGate, expedition control team
texts with the Titan submersible,
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Wendy Rush, coms;
Jeff Ostroff, engineer;
and Carlos, tech
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[07:52:34] [TOP, Polar Prince ship] Clear for descent. Enjoy the ride.
[07:54:07] [SUB, Titan, Stockton Rush, pilot] Descending now.
[07:58:16] [SUB] Launch Sequence complete, rdy?
[08:00:39] [TOP] all clear
[08:01:11] [SUB] Proceeding.
[08:03:09] [TOP] Enjoy the dive gentlemen.
[08:19:53] [TOP] you’re 15 minutes into the dive, current depth. Systems Check, please.
[08:21:28] [SUB] System check complete, all in order. All lights are green. We are 756, proceeding.
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Jeff Ostroff (mission engineer), on the mother ship writes, “Too fast?” in a note (off com) for the [TOP] team to see because he was concerned about the speed the Titan was descending.
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[08:22:41] [TOP] Thank You. Proceed.
[08:34:02] [TOP] 30 minutes in, update please.
[08:34:57] [SUB] All systems are functioning normally. We’re in good shape. Continuing our descent as planned.
[08:36:05] [TOP] Superb. proceed.
[08:49:10] [TOP] Over 45-minute mark. Current depth? Confirm status.
[08:51:30] [SUB] Sub depth at 1934. All systems stable and descent continuing as planned. Happy crew.
[08:52:28] [TOP] Excellent!
[09:01:46] [TOP] You’re at the hour mark.
[09:02:13] [SUB] All is smooth sailing here.
[09:15:21] [TOP] You are at 75 minutes, depth? Do you need to adjust velocity?
[09:17:50] [SUB] All under control at 2960. No adjustments needed. We’re enjoying the ride.
[09:19:03] [TOP] Understood
[09:28:16] [SUB] We’re noting an alarm from rtm [Real Time Monitoring system].
[09:28:47] [TOP] Understood. Do you need to ascend?
[09:30:36] [SUB] No change with thrust the rate of descent is increasing At 35, going to release the ballast now. Standby.
[09:30:55] [TOP] Yes, Agee. Release the ballast.
[09:32:12] [SUB] No improvement. Preparing to jettison the frame.
[09:33:00] [TOP] Affirmative. Update when available. RTM indicator status?
[09:35:48] [SUB] frame jettisoned multiple attempts needed. But starting the ascent now.
[09:36:33] [TOP] Multiple attempts? What is your status? RTM indicators? Depth?
[09:37:38] [TOP] Update please when able.
[09:38:09] [SUB] crackling sound at aft
[09:38:44] [TOP] Can you identify source? RTM indicators status?
[09:40:12] [SUB] neg
[09:40:40] [TOP] RTM status?
[09:42:12] [SUB] trying to run diagnostics. Ascending now but very slow. sounds have subsided. global RTM alert active all red
[09:42:57] [TOP] Understood. Any codes? Depth? Ascent rate?
[09:43:16] [TOP] Updates when able please
[09:43:42] [SUB] slow ascent in progress. Quarter predicted. unclear why rate is small. no indicator. at 3476, aiming for the surface.
[09:44:03] [TOP] We are talking it over with the engineer. Standby.
[09:45:11] [TOP] Depth and status please. What’s the wattage on upwards thrust?
[09:46:37] [SUB] reading red on the A power bus. I switched to B at 3457m more sounds aft
[09:47:19] [TOP] Understood, continue ascent. Talking to Carlos about power bus situation right now. Standby.
[09:48:49] [TOP] We are activating recovery procedures. Carlos is requesting wattage output from bus B. Status update please. Velocity of ascent?
[09:50:09] [TOP] We’re not receiving you. Update please.
[09:51:16] [TOP] Status and depth report.
[09:53:08] [TOP] We need you to respond with status and depth. Carlos is requesting wattage update on thrusters.
[09:55:01] [TOP] We are unable to read you. We are moving to recovery coordinates. Report if you read.
[09:57:22] [TOP] Please respond if you’re able.
[09:57:23] * Realization that the coms and the underwater acoustic positioning system between the Titan and the Polar Prince had apparently simultaneously ceased.
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* Around 09:47:00 the U.S. Navy North Atlantic monitoring devices record a small pop/bang sound lasting around 4-seconds in the area of the Titanic wreck site.
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** U.S. Coast Guard now believes the metal banging sounds heard during the initial search for the Titan submersible was likely from metal debris in the Titanic itself being moved by ocean floor currents.
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*** This typed text version of the unconfirmed Titan transcript was prepared by William Castronuovo and is not meant to indicate that this is an actual transcript of the OceanGate Titan incident.
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**** Most outlets disseminating this “transcript” have clearly noted that its authenticity has yet to be verified.
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Washington, D.C. 2023.0705
