Investigations Unfold in OceanGate Submersible Tragedy

The co-founder of OceanGate, the company behind the ill-fated submersible Titan, recently expressed the original lofty goals of the venture before the tragic incident that claimed the lives of five individuals. Guillermo Sohnlein shared his insights during a session with the U.S. Coast Guard. He explained that the company aimed to create a fleet of several deep-diving submersibles to expand humanity’s access to the deep ocean. “We wanted to give humanity greater access to the ocean, specifically the deep ocean,” Sohnlein stated.

Sohnlein, who left OceanGate prior to the catastrophic implosion in June 2023, defended the company’s mission amidst investigative hearings. The public hearing, conducted by the Coast Guard, started earlier this month to investigate the cause of the disaster. Former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge testified about the company’s focus on profit over scientific exploration, stating, “The whole idea behind the company was to make money. There was very little in the way of science.”

Witnesses slated to testify during the hearings include former OceanGate engineering director Phil Brooks and Roy Thomas from the American Bureau of Shipping. The proceedings are expected to stretch through the week and may bring to light more about the company’s operations leading up to the Titan disaster. Scientific director Steven Ross remarked on the sub’s readiness only a few days before its fatal North Atlantic dive.

The Coast Guard highlighted a significant safety oversight: the Titan had not undergone independent safety reviews, which raised concerns within the undersea exploration community. Since the incident, OceanGate has ceased operations and currently has no employees, although legal representation has been present at the hearings.

The tragic voyage on June 18, 2023, saw the crew abruptly losing contact after communicating about depth and weight changes. In response, the support ship Polar Prince attempted to establish contact, ultimately learning the grim fate of the submersible. Titan’s wreckage was found on the ocean floor around 330 yards from the Titanic, with no survivors.

Victims of the implosion included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, veteran Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, two members of the Dawood family from Pakistan, and British adventurer Hamish Harding. Recently, Nargeolet’s family filed a $50 million lawsuit against the company, highlighting his extensive experience with 37 dives to the Titanic.

Amid the Coast Guard investigation, Antonella Wilby, a former OceanGate contractor, revealed that the Titan relied on a manually operated Excel spreadsheet for navigation, which contributed to safety concerns. “There were delays because there was this manual process,” Wilby explained, criticizing the navigation methods employed on Titan.

The Coast Guard and NTSB continue to scrutinize the series of decisions and events that led to the tragedy, working towards uncovering the causes and consequences surrounding the submersible’s implosion.