Titan submersible implosion blamed on hubris and profit-driven culture

Over a year has passed since the Titan submersible’s catastrophic implosion, which claimed the lives of all five aboard. The ill-fated voyage to the Titanic is now seen as a modern-day Greek tragedy, marked by pride and carelessness. During the first week of a US Coast Guard panel hearing, testimony revealed troubling details about the company behind the 23,000-pound submersible and its founder, who charged passengers $250,000 per dive.

Peter Girguis, a Harvard oceanographer monitoring the hearing, stated, “This is about hubris and greed,” drawing a parallel to the Titanic disaster, which was also marred by overconfidence. Since Monday, former OceanGate employees and others described a terse final message before contact was lost, a company culture focused on profits over science, and prior warnings that were ignored. The panel heard that just days before the implosion, the Titan experienced a malfunction.

The victims included Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s CEO; businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood; businessman Hamish Harding; and French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet. DNA testing confirmed their identities. Chris Roman, a University of Rhode Island professor, emphasised the importance of rigorous safety measures in deep-sea dives, warning against cutting corners.

Wreckage of the ill fated titan submersible sitting on the ocean floor having imploded.
Look at the thickness of the material….. And then think of the pressure at that depth.
Stupid….. Just stupid. pic.twitter.com/POO4tNlh7O

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— Crabbit basturt🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 and always right (@gordon983913058) September 18, 2024

Key moments from the hearing included the Titan’s final message at 10:14 a.m. in Newfoundland, Canada: “All good here.” Half an hour later, it sent another message to the Polar Prince, its mother ship, indicating it had dropped weights before contact was lost. A lawsuit suggests the crew might have known something was wrong.

Days later, authorities found the wreckage near the Titanic. The submersible had suffered a catastrophic implosion due to immense pressure. This incident marked the first implosion of a manned deep-ocean submersible, according to experts. David Lochridge, a former OceanGate director, testified about safety concerns and the company’s profit-driven culture. He had raised alarms about the submersible’s construction and was fired in 2018 after refusing to sign off on its safety.

The hearing also revealed that the Titan’s viewport was only certified for depths of 1,000 meters, but OceanGate intended to descend to 4,000 meters. Lochridge testified that Rush ignored the manufacturer’s concerns and had the viewport designed in-house. Lochridge described a tense exit interview with Rush, where safety concerns were dismissed. The hearing unveiled a pattern of cutting corners and avoiding oversight to save money and hasten missions.

Whistle blower for the titan Sub says the destruction of the sub was "inevitable"
Really adds more speculation as to why there wasn't more precaution for the equipment. pic.twitter.com/WjTH3YOR3l

— dryhumorist (@WByrne43530) September 17, 2024

Alfred McLaren, a retired Navy captain, criticised OceanGate’s approach, warning people against using the submersible years before the tragedy. Rush aimed to make deep-sea exploration accessible by breaking rules, but experts at the hearing described the Titan as experimental and inadequately tested. Girguis highlighted the recklessness of risking others’ lives for exploration.

OceanGate declined to comment on the testimony but stated it was no longer operating and was cooperating with investigations. David Marquet, a retired Navy submarine captain, acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting that Rush was on the submarine when it imploded, showing he believed in its safety.

Renata Rojas, who had participated in a Titan expedition, testified about her confidence in the company’s transparency and described the passengers’ excitement before the doomed dive. However, Rojas and Lochridge provided conflicting accounts of a 2016 submersible crash during a dive to the Andrea Doria shipwreck. Lochridge described Rush’s panic and errors, while Rojas disputed his version, recalling a calm and professional dive.

Steven Ross, a marine scientist, testified about a platform malfunction on the Titan’s fourth mission in 2023, days before the implosion, which caused passengers to be thrown about. The dive was aborted due to a ballast tank issue. Ross also recounted incidents during 2022 dives, including a loud bang and thruster malfunctions. Before the 2023 mission, the Titan had snagged an obstruction, possibly abandoned fishing gear, but the damage was inconclusive.

Patrick Lahey, CEO of Triton Submarines, testified he was unimpressed by the Titan in 2019, describing it as amateurish and poorly executed. Fred Hagen, an OceanGate mission specialist, stated the Titan was never supposed to be safe, calling it an experimental vessel and highlighting the inherent risks. Girguis concluded by questioning how to balance exploration with safety to prevent future tragedies.