Former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge testified to the U.S. Coast Guard about a previous mission where he clashed with CEO Stockton Rush. Lochridge, who was the only qualified submersible pilot within OceanGate, was phased out after he embarrassed Rush by advising against piloting a 2016 voyage. Rush disregarded Lochridge’s warnings and wrecked the vessel during a trip to the Andrea Doria shipwreck, leading to a physical altercation between the two during which Rush threw a controller at Lochridge’s head.
During the hearing, Lochridge brought up his concerns about the Titan submersible which imploded on a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck, resulting in the death of Rush and four passengers. Lochridge had raised safety issues in a 2018 report and expressed that he had no confidence in the way the Titan was being constructed, refusing to greenlight manned tests of the submersible. OceanGate sued Lochridge for disclosing confidential information, leading Lochridge to countersue for wrongful termination due to voicing safety concerns about the vessel.
OceanGate’s former finance and human resources director testified that Lochridge had deemed the Titan as “unsafe.” Lochridge criticized OceanGate’s primary focus on profit over safety, highlighting that the company catered to wealthy paying passengers with little emphasis on scientific research. He expressed feeling as if he was being used to lend the company scientific credibility and objected to the commercialization of the project.
OceanGate suspended its operations following the Titanic submersible implosion, with no full-time employees. The company has been cooperating with Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since their initiation. Witnesses have portrayed the company as eager to launch their craft into the water, leading to the tragic accident that sparked discussions about the future of private undersea exploration. Rush’s widow is not expected to testify, and the Coast Guard declined to comment on specific individuals’ absence during ongoing investigations.
The testimony provided by David Lochridge sheds light on the troubled dynamics within OceanGate, particularly the conflict between safety concerns and commercial interests. Lochridge’s refusal to endorse the Titan submersible due to safety issues resulted in a legal battle with the company, reflecting the tension between prioritizing profitability and ensuring the well-being of crew and passengers. The hearings conducted by the Coast Guard aim to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragic implosion of the Titan and will likely impact the future of undersea exploration.
