The implosion of OceanGate’s Titan submersible last year was linked to financial issues that may have compromised safety measures, a former director of engineering for the company testified in a Coast Guard hearing. Phil Brooks, who headed the engineering team, stated that he left the company due to concerns about safety being compromised. The sub and its crew were lost during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, with five crew members, including OceanGate’s CEO Stockton Rush, who was piloting the sub, perishing in the incident.
During Brooks’ testimony, the focus was on a loud bang heard after a Titanic dive in 2022, a year prior to the sub’s loss. The bang was believed to be caused by a metal frame readjustment, but the team wanted to inspect the hull for cracks. However, due to cost concerns, the sub was left exposed outside during the winter, potentially weakening the hull. Brooks noted that Rush made the final decisions on engineering matters, even though he made recommendations based on the data generated during dives.
OceanGate’s financial struggles were highlighted during the testimony, with employees being asked to forgo paychecks in 2022 to cover costs. The company faced dire financial situations, with the CEO having to write checks to cover payroll. Additionally, the business model involved recruiting mission specialists who paid to participate in research expeditions. The company’s co-founder Guillermo Söhnlein expressed hope that more people would have the opportunity to experience the ocean’s depths in the future.
Issues with updating U.S. and international regulations relating to submersibles were also addressed during the hearing. Roy Thomas of the American Bureau of Shipping emphasized the need for updated regulations, citing the safety deficiencies revealed during OceanGate’s case. There were calls for the Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization to revisit and update regulations for crewed submersibles, ensuring compliance and safety measures are in place to prevent future tragedies like OceanGate’s.
The hearing also brought attention to an internal dispute within OceanGate that occurred in 2018, where OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush dismissed his director of marine operations after expressing concerns about the safety of the Titan sub. The dismissed director, David Lochridge, filed for whistleblower protection, but a settlement was reached that prevented him from speaking out about his concerns. Lochridge later stated that the tragedy could have been prevented if his concerns had been addressed earlier.
The investigative panel also heard about efforts to salvage the wreckage of OceanGate’s Titan submersible, with footage showing the retrieval operation. A remotely operated vehicle was used to secure the wreckage from the ocean floor, and the Coast Guard released a video documenting the recovery efforts. The debris field of the sub was spread along a track on the ocean floor, with key parts of the wreckage located in proximity to the Titanic’s bow. These revelations shed light on the challenges and safety issues facing deep-sea exploration ventures like OceanGate’s.
