Featured Image Credit: US Coast Guard
Topics: Reddit, Technology, World News, News
Niamh Shackleton
Eagle-eyed Redditors have spotted what they think could be a key detail in the ongoing hearing about the 2023 OceanGate submersible disaster.
On Monday (September 16), a hearing brought forward by the US Coast Guard begun to investigate what happened to the Titan sub last year when it went to visit the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
The vessel departed on June 16, 2023, and when it started its descent 48 hours later, those onboard the sub lost contact with the team on land.
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Then the OceanGate sub failed to resurface when it was supposed to, sparking a huge search for the missing vessel.
As the days went on, the remains of the sub were discovered in a debris field and it was eventually announced by the US Coast Guard that the sub had imploded, thus killing all those on board.
Over a year on from the devastating ordeal and the US Coast Guard is still looking into the matter.
During the hearing that begun this week, footage, images and text exchanges from those on the sub to those on land have been revealed.
The haunting footage has been widely disturbed online, and those on Reddit have spotted something on the wreckage of the sub - a ratchet strap.
For those who don't know what a ratchet strap is, these are strong, durable straps that are typically used to secure cargo or equipment during transportation.
What it was doing around the body of the OceanGate sub remains unclear, however.
In light of the discovery, people have been sharing their thoughts on the matter.
Many commenters asked what 'was that even for anyway', while another wondered if they had 'multiple straps' and if this was the 'only one that survived'.
Meanwhile, a third asked if that strap would add 'unnecessary pressure to a vehicle designed to withstand pressure'.
While many have suggested that the strap was there to hold the submersible together, someone else suggested that it was on the vessel after being lowered into the water.
The Redditor wrote: "Am I the only one that thinks these straps were used to lower the sub into the water, and not actually meant to hold it together?"
Another commenter also said: "People don’t realise that those straps are there to pull it back to the surface.
"Not that those things were there trying to hold it together while diving."
The US Coast Guard and OceanGate have been approached for comment.