September 19th 2024.
The tragic incident involving the Titan submersible that imploded last year while on its way to the Titanic wreckage has been the focus of a recent hearing, with the scientific director for the company that owned the submersible testifying before a US Coast Guard panel on Thursday. Steven Ross, the director, shared details about a malfunction that occurred just days before the fatal dive in June 2023. According to Ross, the experimental submersible experienced a platform issue that caused the passengers onboard to be thrown around and took an hour to rescue them from the water.
Ross also mentioned that the submersible pilot, Stockton Rush, had crashed into the bulkheading during the malfunction, with one passenger even being left hanging upside down. Ross admitted that he was not aware if an assessment of the Titan hull was conducted after the incident. Earlier in the hearing, Renata Rojas, a mission specialist for the company, gave a different perspective, describing the company as having competent staff who were determined to make dreams come true.
However, the hearing also heard from other witnesses who raised concerns about the company's operations prior to the doomed mission. The submersible's implosion resulted in the deaths of five people, including Rush. Rojas, who is a member of the Explorers Club, a society that lost two members in the incident, emotionally shared her experience and defended the company's transparency leading up to the Titanic dive.
The Coast Guard panel also released underwater footage of the submersible wreck, showing debris on the ocean floor. The public hearing, which began on September 16th, is part of a larger investigation into the cause of the implosion. Former OceanGate operations director, David Lochridge, who testified on Tuesday, expressed his belief that the company was solely focused on making money and had little regard for science. Other witnesses, including former scientific director Steven Ross, are expected to testify in the coming days.
The hearing shed light on the impatience and rush to get the unconventional submersible into the water, ultimately resulting in a tragic accident that sparked a global debate on the safety of private undersea exploration. The Coast Guard officials noted that the submersible had not undergone independent review, as is standard practice, which brought attention to its unique design and raised concerns in the undersea exploration community.
OceanGate, which is based in Washington state, suspended its operations after the implosion and currently has no full-time employees. However, they have been represented by an attorney during the hearing. The submersible's final dive on June 18th, 2023, was the last time the crew had contact with the support ship, Polar Prince, before the submersible imploded. Despite the exchange of texts about the Titan's depth and weight, the crew assured the support ship that everything was fine, according to visual recreations presented during the hearing.
After the submersible was reported missing, a massive search and rescue effort was launched, with ships, planes, and other equipment being deployed to the area where the submersible was last seen. Four days later, the wreckage was found on the ocean floor, about 300 meters off the bow of the Titanic. Unfortunately, no one on board survived the implosion, including Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, who were also passengers on the submersible.
OceanGate has been cooperating fully with the ongoing investigations by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The company has been making voyages to the Titanic wreckage site since 2021 and has expressed their commitment to safety and transparency in their operations. With more witnesses still to testify, the public hearing is expected to continue through the week and resume next week. Stay updated on all the latest breaking news, celebrity updates, and sports news by following our WhatsApp channel. Your privacy is our top priority, with no comments or algorithms to worry about.
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