The scientific director for the company that owned the Titan submersible that imploded on its way to the Titanic wreckage last year testified about a malfunction that occurred just days before the fatal dive. The malfunction caused passengers on board to tumble about, with one even hanging upside down. The pilot crashed into bulkheading during the incident, but fortunately, no one was injured. The incident raised concerns about the safety of the submersible and whether a safety assessment or hull inspection was conducted afterwards.
An investigatory panel has been listening to testimony for three days, raising questions about the company’s operations before the doomed mission. Five people, including the submersible pilot Stockton Rush, lost their lives when the Titan imploded en route to the Titanic wreck. Some witnesses described the company as troubled and focused more on profit than science or safety, while others, like Renata Rojas, a mission specialist for the company, spoke positively about the company’s competent staff and their dedication to fulfilling dreams.
Rojas testified that she felt the company was transparent leading up to the Titanic dive, despite the tragic outcome. Emotions ran high during her testimony, with the Coast Guard panel providing breaks for her to collect herself. The OceanGate company was described as comprised of hardworking individuals trying to achieve extraordinary feats, including those lost in the Titan implosion. The hearing also featured underwater footage of the submersible wreck, showcasing its tail cone and other debris on the ocean floor.
Former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge testified that the company was primarily driven by profit rather than scientific exploration, leading to clashes with Rush and a lack of focus on safety standards. The hearing is ongoing, with more witnesses expected to testify in the following days. The implosion of the Titan submersible has sparked a global debate about the future of private undersea exploration and the importance of safety protocols in such endeavors.
OceanGate, based in Washington state, suspended its operations after the implosion and has no full-time employees currently. The company has been cooperating with the Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since the incident. The final moments of communication between the crew of the Titan and the support ship Polar Prince revealed no signs of distress before the submersible imploded. The wreckage was discovered on the ocean floor near the Titanic, with no survivors from the crew. The tragic accident has raised concerns about the safety and oversight of private undersea exploration ventures and highlighted the need for stringent safety measures in such operations.
