The carbon fiber hull of the experimental submersible that tragically imploded en route to the Titanic wreck showed manufacturing imperfections, impacting its structural integrity, according to an engineer from the National Transportation Safety Board. During a recent hearing, evidence revealed that the Titan submersible retained notable flaws such as wrinkles, porosity, and voids within its carbon fiber pressure hull.
Two types of sensors reported a “loud acoustic event” during a dive on July 15, 2022, corroborating witness accounts of unusual sounds preceding the disaster. Post-incident investigation uncovered significant delamination in the recovered hull pieces, indicating a critical failure in the bonding process of the carbon fiber layers.
Among the five individuals who perished in the June 2023 implosion was Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate. William Kohnen, a submersibles expert and critic of OceanGate, testified that the Titan could indeed have undergone thorough testing, countering assertions related to its experimental design. He emphasized that skepticism regarding the company’s operations had been pervasive within the industry.
Kohnen further highlighted Rush’s reluctance to accept external feedback, urging for a commitment to safety in the pursuit of innovation. A public hearing by the Coast Guard is currently underway, investigating the implosion’s causes by examining the submersible’s unusual carbon fiber construction and OceanGate’s operational practices.
Witness Bart Kemper, from Kemper Engineering Services, expressed grave concerns regarding the submersible’s design, particularly its window integrity, positing that these issues aligned with indicators of potential failure. The hearing revealed that the Titan had not received independent review, which is standard practice, further raising alarms in the underwater exploration sector.
Previously, David Lochridge, former operations director at OceanGate, claimed that the company’s pursuit of profit often overshadowed safety concerns, creating a risky environment for its avant-garde operations. Since the catastrophe, which has ignited global concerns over private undersea exploration safety, OceanGate has suspended operations and currently lacks full-time employees.
During the Titan’s last dive, communication was lost shortly after the crew confirmed operational status. Subsequently, search and rescue missions commenced in the region, culminating in the tragic discovery of the submersible’s wreckage about 330 yards from the Titanic’s bow, with no survivors on board.
The ongoing hearing is expected to conclude soon, with additional witnesses providing insight into the events leading up to the disaster. The hopes expressed by OceanGate’s former co-founder for increased exploration interests from this tragedy remains a poignant topic of discussion in the aftermath.
