THE University of The Bahamas said it signed a memorandum of understanding with OceanGate, the company behind a missing submersible that has captured headlines worldwide, but never collaborated with the company on any project.

“We are deeply saddened by news of the missing Titan submersible and its passengers,” the university said in a statement to The Tribune.

“University of The Bahamas signed a memorandum of understanding with OceanGate Inc in 2018 for potential research and educational collaboration. However, no collaborative projects ever emerged.

“Like the rest of the world, we are watching this event and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the five people onboard.”

The five people aboard the submersible that went missing on Sunday were presumed dead yesterday after debris from the vessel was found near the wreckage of the Titanic. A US Coast Guard official said the debris was “consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel”.

Yesterday, The Tribune reported OceanGate’s ties to The Bahamas, which includes an advertisement for a $45,000 Bahamas expedition in the Tongue of the Ocean involving the Titan submersible.

The company lists UB as a partner on its website, saying it involves “the development and execution of submersible expeditions and research-based programmes”.

The website features a quote from Dr Carlton Watson, the university’s dean of the faculty of pure and applied sciences, saying the partnership would “strengthen the university’s drive” in developing specialised programmes and other learning opportunities.

Click here to read more at The Tribune