Anindita Chatterjee
Updated on: October 14, 2024 8:08 am GMT
New footage released by the U.S. Coast Guard shows a remote-controlled vehicle retrieving debris from the Titan submersible, which tragically imploded last June, killing all five passengers aboard. This incident has prompted an ongoing inquiry that has raised serious questions regarding safety practices and design flaws in OceanGate’s submersible.
Final Days of the Titan Sub Inquiry
As the investigation nears its conclusion, the U.S. Coast Guard has called on a range of experts and former employees of OceanGate to testify. Today, the Coast Guard will hear from Don Kramer, an engineer from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who is expected to offer insights into the technical reasons behind the catastrophic failure of the Titan sub.
“Safety is our top priority, and we need to understand what went wrong,” said Coast Guard representative Rear Admiral John Mauger during an earlier briefing.
The Titan sub was designed for expeditions to the Titanic’s wreckage but imploded during one of its outings, less than two hours into the dive. All five individuals on board perished, including Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, and renowned explorers like Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Design Flaws and Safety Concerns
The inquiry has surfaced numerous design issues regarding the Titan, particularly its hull. Some key points raised include:
- The viewport was rated for depths of 1,300 meters (4,300 feet), while the Titan aimed to dive almost three times deeper.
- The submersible’s cylindrical shape resulted in uneven pressure distribution in the deep ocean.
- Use of carbon fiber—a non-standard material—raised concerns about its reliability in such extreme conditions.
- Weak junctions between different materials, where carbon fiber was connected to titanium, created potential points of failure.
The materials and design choices have been labeled “idiotic” by experts, prompting the Coast Guard to take a closer look at the safety regulations in place for deep-sea exploration vehicles.
Economic Pressures Compounding Safety Risks
Amber Bay, OceanGate’s Director of Administration, testified that financial constraints significantly impacted the company’s operations. The cost of development and dives was largely subsidized by investors and ticket sales from paying passengers. Initially priced at approximately $150,000, the cost per dive rose to $250,000, reflecting the expenses of taking an expedition crew and support ship to the dive site.
One intriguing admission came when Bay revealed that if a dive failed to reach the Titanic, no refunds were issued to customers. Instead, they were invited to try again on another expedition, leading to a buildup of booking slots and financial strain.
The Coast Guard pressed Bay on whether there was a sense of urgency within the company to complete expeditions. “There was definitely was an urgency to deliver on what we had offered,” she explained, acknowledging it wasn’t a matter of desperation but rather a commitment to fulfill promises made to customers.
Eyewitness Accounts and Alarm Bells
Days of testimony have revealed alarming accounts from individuals who participated in earlier dives. Karl Stanley, a deep-sea diving expedition operator, recounted a harrowing experience during a test dive in 2019. He described hearing crackling noises as the prototype descended into the ocean depths after it had been struck by lightning, an event of which he was not informed.
“We got down there and it’s making noises—the sound of a carbon fiber bond breaking… It was clear we were all a little disnerved,” Stanley stated.
His concerns didn’t stop there. After witnessing a significant crack in the internal surface of the carbon fiber hull in June 2019, the prototype was retired and a new hull was constructed. Stanley believed that “OceanGate came very, very close to killing me,” underscoring the potential dangers posed by the design flaws.
Heavy Losses and Emotional Impact
The June implosion of the Titan not only shook the tourist industry but also deeply affected the families and friends of those who lost their lives. The passengers included prominent figures such as:
- Stockton Rush, 61, CEO of OceanGate
- Shahzada Dawood, 48, businessman
- Suleman Dawood, 19, student and Shahzada’s son
- Hamish Harding, 58, businessman and explorer
- Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, famed French explorer and Titanic expert
Among them were adventurous spirits, each described as ”true explorers” by OceanGate. Dive expert David Mearns, who lost two friends in the disaster, shared his grief, stating, “It was the most horrific way to lose someone.”
Looking Ahead
As the inquiry unfolds and the final days of testimonies draw near, many are left to wonder about the future of deep-sea tourism and exploration. Can the industry implement changes to enhance safety and prevent tragic incidents like the Titan implosion from occurring again?
The U.S. Coast Guard is committed to evaluating the findings from the inquiry, aiming to establish stricter guidelines and regulations for deep-sea submersible operations. For now, audiences can follow the inquiry proceedings, which shed light not only on the implications for OceanGate but the broader context of oceanic exploration.
In preparation for today’s testimony, it’s a somber reminder to the industry that safety should always prevail over profit. The story of the Titan highlights the excitement and risks associated with pushing the boundaries of underwater exploration.
The investigation is still going on, and new information is coming out all the time.
