CEO’s 2018 Assertions of Sub Safety Under Scrutiny in Titan Inquiry
By News Fox
A revealing transcript from a pivotal 2018 meeting at OceanGate, the company behind the ill-fated Titan submersible, has surfaced amid an ongoing investigation into the sub’s catastrophic implosion earlier this year. The document captures a heated exchange between OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and former director of marine operations David Lochridge, detailing discussions around safety concerns that tragically foreshadowed the June 2023 disaster that claimed the lives of all five passengers, including Rush himself.
During the meeting, Lochridge raised significant safety concerns which were met with strong assurances from Rush, who stated, “No-one is dying under my watch – period.” This interaction is now a focal point in the US Coast Guard’s efforts to unravel the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy during a routine dive to the Titanic shipwreck. The release of Lochridge’s “quality inspection report” marked the start of his termination process, a move that eventually saw him take his grievances to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration before settling under pressure from OceanGate.
As public hearings continue to unravel the layers of this complex case, new evidence has emerged, including a previously unseen image of the Titan submersible experiencing structural failure during a 2021 dive. Authorities hope that this inquiry will not only clarify the circumstances surrounding the Titan’s implosion but also provide critical recommendations to prevent future tragedies in deep-sea exploration.
The proceedings are set to feature testimonies from key figures, including OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein and engineering director Phil Brooks, as they attempt to piece together the details of one of the most scrutinized incidents in marine exploration history.
A transcript from a crucial meeting at OceanGate, the company behind the ill-fated Titan submersible, has been released, revealing that CEO Stockton Rush assured in 2018, “No-one is dying under my watch – period.” The meeting documented a heated exchange between Rush and David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former director of marine operations, who raised serious safety concerns about the submersible’s design. The US Coast Guard disclosed this transcript as part of their investigation into the June 2023 disaster, where the Titan sub imploded during a voyage to the Titanic wreck, killing all five onboard, including Rush.
The submersible, made with a carbon fiber hull, had numerous safety concerns highlighted in Lochridge’s “quality inspection report.” Despite voicing his concerns, Lochridge was dismissed from his position following the meeting. Subsequent to his termination, he reported the issues to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), but due to delays and legal pressure from OceanGate, ended the pursuit and signed a non-disclosure agreement.
The investigation, continuing with public hearings, aims to identify factors leading to the tragedy and prevent future occurrences. OceanGate suspended all operations post-incident, and the inquiry has so far highlighted 118 technical issues with Titan’s previous dives. Notably, in a 2021 dive, Titan’s dome fell off leading to an incident recounted by passenger Fred Hagen, illustrating previous safety failures. This week, the inquiry will hear testimonies from critical former OceanGate personnel and industry experts.
To provide further clarity and bring together all the key points of this complex and ongoing situation, it’s imperative to summarize the critical aspects of the investigation and the broader implications it holds for the industry:
Summary and Additional Insights:
The tragedy surrounding the Titan submersible, operationalized by OceanGate, Inc., has brought under scrutiny various facets of maritime safety, engineering ethics, and corporate practices. During the pivotal meeting in January 2018, Stockton Rush, OceanGate’s CEO, vehemently defended the submersible’s safety despite explicit warnings from his then-director of marine operations, David Lochridge. This meeting—a heated two-hour debate, ultimately leading to Lochridge’s dismissal—highlights an essential conflict about the prioritization of safety concerns. Lochridge’s subsequent approach to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and his claims of regulatory inaction raise questions about oversight effectiveness in high-risk endeavors.
The recent document releases, including sections of the 2018 meeting transcript and incident reports from prior dives, paint a picture of repeated technical failures, including a chilling incident in 2021 where the sub’s dome detached after a dive, indicating severe structural vulnerabilities. These disclosures align with testimony from surviving individuals who indirectly experienced these issues, adding weight to the narrative of systemic faults.
Investigators now seek to understand how these repeated warnings and incidents were addressed—or ignored—by OceanGate’s leadership. The upcoming testimonies from other OceanGate figures, including co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein and former engineering director Phil Brooks, as well as input from Roy Thomas of the American Bureau of Shipping, are expected to shed further light on internal practices and external certifying procedures.
Ultimately, this investigation has profound implications for the future of deep-sea exploration and commercial ventures. Recommendations from this inquiry will likely drive new safety regulations and oversight mechanisms, not just to safeguard future underwater missions but to fortify public trust in pioneering, yet perilous, technological enterprises. The tragedy serves as a solemn reminder that innovation must always be balanced with robust safety protocols, ensuring that ambition does not compromise human lives.