In 2019, Karl Stanley, Petros Mathioudakis, pilot Stockton Rush, and Joel Perry prepared for a crucial test dive of OceanGate’s Titan submersible in the Bahamas. Karl Stanley, having built over 2,000 dives in submersibles himself, had concerns about the dive’s safety by the end of it due to various red flags that were present during the test dive. The tragic loss of the Titan sub and its crew during a trip to the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic led to a Coast Guard hearing to investigate the causes of the incident and recommend preventative measures for the future. The investigation focused on OceanGate’s missteps during the development of the Titan sub.
During the test dive in 2019, the Titan sub was brought about 10 miles offshore in the Bahamas, and upon descent, the crew heard cracking noises, indicating potential issues with the carbon-fiber hull. Despite Karl Stanley voicing his concerns about the hull’s safety in email exchanges with Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s CEO, the company insisted that their testing was sufficient. The conversation prompted Stanley to question the product’s marketability due to safety concerns surrounding the hull.
In 2020, OceanGate ordered a new hull from two Seattle-area companies, ElectroImpact and Janicki Industries, after identifying issues with the first one. However, tragedy struck again in 2021 when the replacement hull gave way during a dive, resulting in the deaths of multiple individuals, including Stockton Rush. The investigation revealed that repeated trips to extreme depths, along with exposure to the elements, likely weakened the hull and contributed to its failure. Despite the setbacks, OceanGate continued to conduct expeditions with the replacement hull.
The questioning during the Coast Guard hearing included discussions about Stockton Rush’s motivations for proceeding with the Titanic dives despite knowing about the sub’s problems. There were also concerns raised about OceanGate’s financial stability and staff reductions after the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation shed light on the company’s reliance on investors for revenue, as well as instances where employees had to defer their pay due to financial constraints. The hearing also addressed the dismissal of an employee who raised concerns about a loud bang heard during a previous Titan dive.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, OceanGate suspended all exploration and commercial operations. An emotional statement from one of the company’s former directors highlighted the impact of the loss on the families of the explorers who lost their lives in the accidents. The hearing brought to light the challenges faced by OceanGate in ensuring the safety of their expeditions and the financial pressures that the company experienced. The investigation’s findings will likely lead to recommendations for improved safety measures in future submersible expeditions to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
