In an unexpected turn, investigators found an ink pen from Stockton Rush, head of OceanGate. US Coast Guard teams worked hard as they combed through the wreckage of the submersible near the Titanic site.
The Titan was built for deep-sea trips. In June 2023, it suffered a fatal implosion. All five on board lost their lives. The team worked at nearly 3,800 meters deep. They pulled out items such as business cards, Titanic stickers, bits of clothing, and the intact pen.
A Coast Guard video shows the work clearly. The film depicts how the Titan’s endcap held items when the implosion hit. Even as many parts broke, the pen stayed whole. It survived a force that shattered much else.
Coast Guard officials described the scene. They lifted water-soaked debris, mixed with carbon fiber and fiberglass bits. They also found a piece of Rush’s suit that held the pen. The sight of broken items next to something intact felt strange. One officer said, "Each one of those pieces, even the pen, was still intact. It hadn’t been broken… all of these things shattered, but his pen was still intact."
Finding Rush’s things brings an emotional weight. He promoted deep-sea trips and helped mark the Titan as a way to see a great maritime tragedy. That the pen survived brings focus to the hard nature of ocean work and the personal marks left behind.
Investigators from the Marine Board continue to study the found items. They want to learn more about the cause of the implosion. The intact pen may seem small amid human remains and other effects, but its survival tells us of unexpected strength during loss.
The OceanGate case draws our eyes to the risks of deep-sea work. These dangers do not stop people from chasing hard-to-reach goals. We remember those who died while seeking new depths. Their mark lives on in the deep and in the stories that arise from its secrets.