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The Coast Guard's investigation, with its detailed marine analysis, provides context to operational failures and issues surrounding licensing. Interestingly, Cameron James, the renowned filmmaker and deep-sea explorer involved with the sub's development, was interviewed and voluntarily redacted. However, details from his interview reveal his advocacy for safer tourist submersibles and insights into the engineering and regulatory environment at the time.
The Failure Sequence: From Damage to Catastrophe
The investigation points toward a progressive failure, initiated possibly by a delamination or buckling within the composite hull. Several key events emerged: