OceanGate Co-Founder to Testify on Titan Submersible Implosion
The co-founder of OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan submersible that tragically imploded en route to the Titanic wreckage, is set to testify before the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday as part of its investigation into the disaster. Guillermo Sohnlein, who co-founded OceanGate with Stockton Rush, will provide insight into the company’s operations and decision-making processes. Rush was among the five individuals who lost their lives in the June 2023 implosion.
This hearing is a crucial component of the high-level investigation initiated by the Coast Guard to determine the cause of the catastrophic incident. Although Sohnlein left OceanGate several years ago, his testimony is expected to shed light on the company’s inner workings and potentially contentious management decisions.
The hearing, which began on 16th September, has already highlighted several concerns about OceanGate’s operations. Former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge testified about frequent clashes with Rush, asserting that the company was more focused on profit than safety. “The whole idea behind the company was to make money,” Lochridge stated. “There was very little in the way of science.”
Other witnesses scheduled to testify include former OceanGate engineering director Phil Brooks and Roy Thomas from the American Bureau of Shipping. Their testimonies will likely further explore the company’s practices and the circumstances leading up to the disaster.
The investigation has already revealed that Titan, the submersible involved in the incident, had not undergone an independent review, which is a standard safety procedure in the field of undersea exploration. This lack of scrutiny, combined with Titan’s unconventional design, has sparked a broader debate about the regulation and future of private underwater expeditions.
During Titan’s final dive on 18th June 2023, communication was lost shortly after an exchange of messages regarding the submersible’s depth and weight. One of the last messages from Titan’s crew to the support ship Polar Prince read, “all good here.” However, the situation quickly turned dire, and the submersible was reported overdue. Rescue efforts were launched, but the wreckage was found on the ocean floor near the Titanic, confirming that all on board had perished.
OceanGate, which has since suspended its operations, said it has been fully cooperating with the ongoing Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since they began. The company had been offering voyages to the Titanic wreckage site since 2021, attracting significant interest due to the unique opportunity to visit one of the world’s most famous shipwrecks.
As the hearing continues, the testimonies are expected to provide further insight into the safety practices of OceanGate and the regulatory measures surrounding private submersible expeditions. For ongoing coverage and in-depth analysis of the Titan submersible investigation, visit EyeOnLondon.
