The US Coast Guard recently presented an animation regarding the implosion of an experimental submersible, the Titan, during a two-week hearing to investigate the causes of the incident. The crew of the Titan, communicating via text messages with the support ship Polar Prince, were heard saying “all good here” before losing contact. The hearing also revealed that the Titan had undergone questionable storage practices and lacked third-party reviews of its hull, sparking debate in the undersea exploration community.
The first witness, Tony Nissen, the former engineering director of the company that owned the Titan, testified that he felt pressured to rush operations and compromised safety decisions. Nissen also mentioned that the Titan was struck by lightning during a test mission in 2018, potentially compromising its hull. He claimed that he was fired in 2019 after refusing to let the submersible go to the Titanic due to safety concerns.
Nissen described OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush as difficult to work for, often prioritizing costs and schedules over safety concerns. He stated that he did not trust the operations staff and refused to pilot the submersible when asked, emphasizing his doubts about its safety.
The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the tragedy and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. OceanGate suspended operations after the implosion, and key representatives are scheduled to testify during the hearing. The probe has attracted worldwide attention, as the wreckage of the Titan was found on the ocean floor near the Titanic. The Coast Guard plans to submit recommendations to prevent such incidents, with the National Transportation Safety Board also conducting an investigation.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com