Former OceanGate operations director, David Lochridge, testified before U.S. Coast Guard investigators about clashes with CEO, Stockton Rush, over safety concerns and incidents involving submersible vessels. Lochridge highlighted a 2016 mission to the Andrea Doria shipwreck where he warned Rush about system failures with the Cyclops 1 vessel and tried to take control from him when Rush piloted the vessel dangerously. Rush’s reckless actions and refusal to listen to safety warnings led to tensions between the two individuals.
During his testimony, Lochridge expressed serious reservations about the safety of the Titan submersible, which imploded during a voyage to the Titanic wreck site, resulting in the deaths of Rush and four passengers. Lochridge had raised safety concerns about OceanGate operations in a 2018 report and refused to authorize manned tests of the Titan due to safety issues. Despite his protests, OceanGate sued Lochridge for disclosing confidential information, leading to his counterclaim alleging wrongful termination for voicing concerns about the unsafe vessel.
In the Coast Guard hearing, Lochridge detailed specific safety issues with the Titan submersible, such as the lack of confidence in its construction and the refusal to greenlight tests due to safety concerns. He cited an inspection report that identified numerous safety issues and posed serious concerns about the vessel’s safety. Lochridge was critical of OceanGate’s focus on profits over safety, claiming that the company prioritized wealthy paying passengers over scientific research, which conflicted with his professional values as an engineer and experienced submersible pilot.
OceanGate, which is based in Washington state, was suspended after the Titan implosion incident. The company currently has no full-time employees and has been cooperating with investigations by the Coast Guard and the NTSB. Witnesses at the hearing described a troubled company that was eager to put their innovative craft into the water, leading to the fatal accident that sparked discussions about the future of private undersea exploration. Rush’s widow, Wendy Rush, is not expected to testify, and reasons for her absence were not disclosed by the Coast Guard, citing ongoing investigations and the complexity of the case.
Overall, Lochridge’s testimony shed light on the troubled history of OceanGate, the clashes between executives over safety concerns, and the fatal consequences of rushing to put the Titan submersible into operation. The hearing brought attention to the importance of prioritizing safety in undersea exploration and the need for rigorous testing and oversight to prevent future accidents. The investigation into the implosion of the Titan submersible serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of sacrificing safety for profit in the pursuit of undersea exploration.
