OceanGate has made an announcement reported that it is halting all exploration and commercial operations. This decision comes after their Titan submersible experienced a devastating implosion, resulting in the tragic loss of all five people on board.
The ill-fated submersible, piloted by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, was declared missing on June 18. It lost communication less than two hours into its descent of 12,500 feet to reach the wreckage of the Titanic.
After an international search effort lasting four days, remnants of the vessel were found near the location of the sunken ship. Last week, the US Coast Guard recovered debris believed to contain human remains, leading to the launch of an investigation.
OceanGate did not provide specific details regarding the reasons for their decision to suspend operations. However, their website, where the announcement was made, still promotes their expeditions priced at $250,000.
Although an official conclusion is pending, several troubling facts about the submersible’s safety have come to light, none of which reflect positively on OceanGate and its late CEO. One such revelation is that an OceanGate employee was fired years ago after raising concerns about the submersible’s “catastrophic” issues.
Furthermore, instances of disregarded safety measures are evident. In an interview that has gone viral, Rush appeared to take pride in the submersible’s questionable construction, even showcasing the use of a cheap Logitech gamepad for control.
It has also been reported that Rush boasted about using expired carbon fiber to construct the submersible’s hull, a material unsuitable for such purposes even when in optimal condition. Last year, the CEO went so far as to state in an interview that he believed safety was a point where it became “just pure waste.”
The Coast Guard is currently conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the exact cause of the submersible’s failure. However, it may take several months before definitive answers are obtained. Tom Hauter, a former investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, describes the nature of this submersible disaster as “uncharted territory.”
“This is the first fatality on a passenger carriage submarine I can think of and certainly the first one going into Titanic at this depth,” Hauter told ABC.