The recent trial into the ill-fated dive of the Titan Submersible paints a troubling picture of the OceanGate company’s practices and priorities. According to David Lochridge, former Head of Operations at OceanGate, the company was more focused on profit-making than ensuring the safety and scientific integrity of its operations.
Lochridge testified to US Coast Guard investigators that he had raised concerns about potential safety issues with the Titan submersible which led to his dismissal from the company in 2018. However, he claims that his warnings were ignored.
Describing the Titan as an “abomination,” Lochridge highlighted serious flaws in its design and construction. He was subsequently fired and sued by OceanGate for allegedly revealing confidential information. Lochridge countersued for wrongful dismissal, bringing further attention to the company’s internal issues.
Structural Issues
Donald Kramer, a materials engineer with the National Transportation Safety Board, testified about the submersible’s carbon fiber hull. He pointed out numerous imperfections, including pores, voids, and wrinkles, which significantly weakened the structure. These flaws could have contributed to the submersible’s failure under the immense pressure of the deep sea.
At the depth of the Titanic wreck, approximately 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) below sea level, the pressure is about 390 times greater than at the surface. This immense pressure exerts a tremendous force on the submersible’s hull. If the hull is not perfectly constructed and free of defects, it can lead to catastrophic failure. In the case of the Titan submarine, the structural weaknesses in the carbon fiber hull could not withstand the external pressure, leading to an implosion.
Carbon fibre is “susceptible to fatigue failure” under repeated pressurization and salt water can weaken the material in multiple ways, according to the expert witness Roy Thomas.
Liability Waiver
OceanGate’s liability waiver was also notably explicit about the risks involved. As per the reports, the four-page document mentioned the word “death” nine times, “injury” ten times, and “risk” seventeen times.
It warned participants of potential “pain, suffering, illness, disfigurement, temporary or permanent disability (including paralysis), economic or emotional loss, and death.” This stark language underscores the dangerous nature of the expeditions and raises questions about the adequacy of the safety measures in place.
Lochridge’s testimony suggests that OceanGate’s primary motivation was profit rather than scientific discovery or passenger safety. “The whole idea behind the company was to make money,” he testified. “There was very little in the way of science.”
A leader driven by Ambition and Risks
The testimonies about Stockton Rush reveal a leader driven by ambition and a desire to innovate, but also one who was willing to take significant risks and dismiss critical safety concerns.
He aimed to revolutionize deep-sea exploration by offering unique experiences, such as viewing the Titanic wreckage.
According to Karl Stanley, CEO of the Roatán Institute of Deepsea Exploration and a longtime friend of Rush, Stockton was aware that the Titan project could end in tragedy. Stanley testified that Rush knew there was only one way the project would end, indicating a level of acceptance of the inherent risks involved. Stanley went on one of the first OceanGate Titan test runs in 2019.
Rush was also described as being reluctant to accept external scrutiny and regulation. William Kohnen, a submersibles expert, testified that Rush was not receptive to outside criticism and often shunned regulation and robust testing.
In a particularly controversial testimony, an ex-OceanGate employee claimed that Rush suggested he would “buy a congressman” to resolve issues related to the Titan submersible.
During a 2019 dive, Karl Stanley recounted that Rush was “scared” by strange noises they heard, which were later identified as signs of structural issues. This incident suggests that Rush was aware of the risks but perhaps underestimated their severity.
The allegations against OceanGate highlight significant concerns about the company’s commitment to safety and scientific integrity.
The tragic implosion of the submarine took the lives of Rush, deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British businessman Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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