Titan Sub CEO Subbed Safety Warnings (Video)

Email exchanges between a leading deep-sea exploration specialist and the CEO of OceanGate, a company specializing in deep-sea expeditions, have unveiled concerns about the safety of the company’s Titan submersible.

The messages, seen by the BBC, show that Rob McCallum repeatedly urged OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush to halt the use of the submersible until it had been classified by an independent body, warning that it put clients at risk. However, Rush dismissed the warnings, stating that he was tired of safety arguments being used to impede innovation. The tense exchange concluded when OceanGate’s lawyers threatened legal action.

McCallum, in his email to Rush in March 2018, expressed his concerns over the potential dangers faced by Rush and his clients, drawing a parallel to the ill-fated Titanic.

He urged OceanGate to seek certification for the Titan before using it for commercial tours, emphasizing that an unclassified and unproven submersible should not be used for deep-dive operations. McCallum further implored Rush to exercise caution during testing and sea trials and to adopt a conservative approach, stating that Rush’s actions had the potential to put the entire industry at risk.

In response, Rush defended his business and criticized the existing framework surrounding deep-sea expeditions. He argued that industry players were attempting to stifle new entrants and innovation in the market, emphasizing his qualifications to understand the risks associated with subsea exploration in a new vehicle.

The exchange continued with McCallum reiterating the importance of sea trials to determine the submersible’s capabilities and the broader implications beyond the Titan and the Titanic.

OceanGate, founded by Rush in 2009, offered customers the opportunity to experience deep-sea travel, including visits to the Titanic wreckage, aboard the Titan at a price of $250,000. The company has not commented on the revealed email exchange.

Experts have raised questions about the safety of the Titan and the regulation of private sector deep-sea expeditions. Concerns have been raised regarding the experimental design of the Titan and the use of carbon fiber materials in its construction. McCallum was among a group of industry leaders and experts who signed a 2018 letter warning Rush that OceanGate’s approach could lead to catastrophic problems.

The certification or “classification” of submersibles is typically carried out by marine organizations such as the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DNV, or Lloyd’s Register. This process ensures that the submersible meets specific standards in terms of stability, strength, safety, and performance. However, certification is not mandatory.

McCallum emphasized that the Titan submersible should not have been used for travel and criticized Rush’s disregard for sound engineering principles. He argued that adherence to these principles and the laws of physics is essential, and failure to do so comes at a terrible price. McCallum maintains that the tragedy involving the Titan submersible should never have occurred and should not be allowed to happen again.