Alleged Titan Submersible 'Transcript' Spreads Across Social Media

An unconfirmed transcript shared online alleges to reveal the conversation being had between the Titan submersible and its support ship—Polar Prince—before the vessel carrying five passengers to the site of the Titanic wreckage is believed to have imploded, killing all onboard. The transcript has been widely shared on social media platforms but not verified, and there is considerable doubt about its authenticity. Fact-checking website Snopes has given a rating of "False" to the report of the transcript.

The transcript, alongside videos purporting to reveal audio footage of the submersible's last moments, has added to concerns about potential disinformation on the tragedy being spread online.

Titan, a tourist submersible operated by the private company OceanGate, lost communication with the Polar Prince while descending to the site of the wreck of the Titanic on the morning of June 18.

For days, rescuers raced against time to locate the vessel and save the five onboard before they ran out of oxygen, but on June 22 authorities reported that all passengers had likely died immediately when the vessel imploded during descent.

Since then, the case has continued to capture the attention of the public, with several TikTok and YouTube videos talking about the tragic incident. In early July, videos showing what is referred to as a "transcript" or "log" of the final communication between the Titan and its surface ship emerged on the two platforms.

It is not clear whether the so-called "transcript" is real or fake, and research about it has proved inconclusive.

Newsweek has contacted OceanGate via email for comment. The company has recently announced on its website that it has "suspended all exploration and commercial operations."

Commenting on the "transcript" on Facebook, in a post later shared on Reddit, Parks Stephenson—a Titanic explorer who worked with director James Cameron on Titanic-related projects—said he initially believed the text, but then found inconsistencies.

"I admit that I was at first fooled by the scenario described in this 'log,' because it seemed to fit what little we know and suspect," Stephenson wrote.

"After the initial emotion passed and I took time to study the text more carefully, however, I could start to see certain incongruities." He called the text "most likely nothing more than a cruel and cynical fantasy."

Although some commenters on Reddit have been less skeptical, most agreed with Stephenson's assessment.

This is the full "transcript" of the unconfirmed conversation that has been shared online:

[07:52:34] [POLAR PRINCE] clear for descent. Enjoy the ride

[07:54:07] [TITAN] Descending now

[07:58:16] [TITAN] Launch sequence complete, rdy?

[0800:39] [POLAR PRINCE] all clear

[08:01:11] [TITAN] Proceeding.

[08:03:09] [POLAR PRINCE] Enjoy the dive gentlemen.

[08:19:53] [POLAR PRINCE] you're 15 minutes into the dive, current depth. Systems check, please.

[08:21:28] [TITAN] Systems check complete, all in order. All lights are green. We are 756, proceeding.

[08:22:41] [POLAR PRINCE] Thank you. Proceed.

[08:34:02] [POLAR PRINCE] 30 minutes in, update please.

[08:34:57] [TITAN] All systems are functioning normally. We're in good shape. Continuing our descent as planned.

[08:36:05] [POLAR PRINCE] Superb, proceed.

[08:49:10] [POLAR PRINCE] Over 45 minute mark. Current depth? Confirm status.

[08:51:30] [TITAN] Depth at 1934. All systems stable and descent continuing as planned. Happy crew.

[08:52:28] [POLAR PRINCE] Excellent!

[09:01:46] [POLAR PRINCE] You're at the hour mark.

[09:02:13] [TITAN] All is smooth sailing here.

[09:15:21] [POLAR PRINCE] You are at 75 minutes, depth? Status? Do you need to adjust velocity?

[09:17:50] [TITAN] All under control. At 2960. No adjustments needed. We're enjoying the ride.

[09:19:03] [POLAR PRINCE] Understood

[09:28:16] [TITAN] we're noting an alarm from the rtm (Real-Time Monitoring System)

[09:28:35] [TITAN] reducing velocity descent depth 3433

[09:28:47] [POLAR PRINCE] Understood. Do you need to ascend?

[09:30:55] [TITAN] no change with thrust the rate of descent is increasing. At 35. Going to release the ballast now. Standby.

[09:30:55] [POLAR PRINCE] Yes, agree. Release the ballast.

[09:32:12] [TITAN] No improvement. Preparing to jettison the frame.

[09:33:00] [POLAR PRINCE] Affirmative. Update when able. RTM indicator status?

[09:35:48] [TITAN] frame jettisoned multiple attempts needed. But starting the ascent now.

[09:36:33] [POLAR PRINCE] Multiple attempts? What is your status? RTM indicators? Depth?

[09:37:38] [POLAR PRINCE] Update please when able.

*[09:38:09] [TITAN] crackling sound at aft

[09:38:44] [POLAR PRINCE] Can you identify source? RTM indicators status?

[09:40:12] [TITAN] neg

[09:40:40] [POLAR PRINCE] RTM status?

[09:42:12] [TITAN] trying to run diagnostics. Ascending now. But very slow. Sounds have subsided. Global RTM alert active all red.

[09:42:57] [POLAR PRINCE] Understood. Any codes? Depth? Ascent rate?

[09:43:16] [POLAR PRINCE] Updates when able please.

[09:42:42] [TITAN] slow ascent in progress. quarter predicted. Unclear why rate is small. No indicator. At 3476. Aiming for the surface.

[09:44:03] [POLAR PRINCE] We are talking it over with the engineer, standby.

[09:45:11] [POLAR PRINCE Depth and status please. What's the wattage on upwards thrust?

[09:46:37] [TITAN] reading red on the A power bus. I switched to B. at 3457m more sounds aft.

[09:47:19] [POLAR PRINCE] Understood, continue ascent. Talking to Carlos about power bus situation right now. Standby.

[09:48:49] [POLAR PRINCE] We are activating recovery procedures. Carlos is requesting wattage output from bus B. Status update please. Velocity of ascent?

[09:50:09] [POLAR PRINCE] We're not receiving you. Update please.

[09:51:16] [POLAR PRINCE] Status and depth report.

[09:53:08] [POLAR PRINCE] We need you to respond with status and depth. Carlos is requesting wattage update on thrusters.

[09:55:01] [POLAR PRINCE] We are unable to read you. We are moving to recovery coordinates. Report if you read.

[09:57:22] [POLAR PRINCE] Please respond if you're able.

Update 7/11/23, 6:15 a.m. ET: This article and its headline have been updated with additional information.

Update 7/17/23, 1 p.m. ET: This article was updates to includes Snope's fact-check rating of the claim.

Update 7/17/23, 7.03 p.m. ET: This article was updates to includes Snope's fact-check rating of the claim as "False"