The tragic incident involving OceanGate’s submersible, which claimed five lives during a 2023 Titanic expedition, remains shrouded in mystery.
Guillermo Sohnlein, co-founder of OceanGate, expressed his uncertainty over what exactly caused the fatal implosion.
While testifying before a Coast Guard panel, Sohnlein admitted that despite thorough investigations, we may never fully understand what went wrong.
Sohnlein’s Perspective on the Submersible’s Failure
During his testimony, Sohnlein revealed his lack of insight into the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy.
“I don’t know what happened. I don’t know who made what decision and based on what information,” he said.
He emphasized that even with the efforts of investigative teams, the truth might remain elusive.
Sohnlein described the implosion as an event that “was not supposed to happen,” though he could not pinpoint the cause.
The victims of the implosion included adventurer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
Sohnlein acknowledged that the crash was a devastating blow to their shared mission of ocean exploration.
OceanGate’s Original Vision
OceanGate’s ambitious goal was to create a fleet of deep-diving submersibles capable of reaching depths of 6,000 meters.
The company’s founders aimed to make deep-sea exploration more accessible to humanity, without the high costs of a dedicated mothership.
Sohnlein described their vision as one of expanding access to the deep ocean, which he referred to as “magical.”
However, with the tragedy and the subsequent fallout, Sohnlein conceded that OceanGate’s role in this dream has likely come to an end.
Conflicting Accounts of OceanGate’s Operations
Sohnlein’s optimism stands in contrast to the testimony of David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former director of marine operations.
Lochridge painted a less idealistic picture, claiming that the company was driven more by profit than science.
He argued that the rush to get the Titan submersible operational came at the cost of safety and that the company showed little concern for scientific endeavors.
Lochridge’s testimony clashed with Sohnlein’s narrative, suggesting a company culture focused on pushing boundaries—perhaps too hastily.
A Tense Exchange Over Safety Concerns
One of the more striking revelations from Lochridge’s testimony was an exchange between him and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, which occurred five years before the fateful expedition.
During a heated discussion about the safety of the Titan’s carbon fiber hull, Lochridge raised concerns about the sub’s design and construction.
Rush, however, was adamant that the vessel was safe, declaring, “I have no desire to die, and I’m not going to die.
No one is dying under my watch—period.”
Despite these assurances, Lochridge maintained that his concerns were ignored, and shortly after the meeting, he was dismissed from OceanGate.
Lochridge’s Whistleblower Journey
After his departure, Lochridge contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), voicing his concerns over the Titan’s safety.
He was placed under whistleblower protection due to the gravity of his claims.
However, his legal battle with OceanGate proved to be a long and taxing process.
OceanGate attempted to settle the matter, offering Lochridge and his wife a settlement agreement.
Lochridge refused, counter-suing the company to bring his claims to light, framing the issue as a matter of public safety.
Despite his efforts, Lochridge’s case fell into a backlog at OSHA, and after months of waiting, he ultimately decided to drop both his claim and lawsuit in late 2018.
The Lingering Questions
While the legal battles and investigations have provided some insights into OceanGate’s practices, the full truth of what happened to the Titan submersible may never be known.
As Sohnlein pointed out, the accident has raised significant questions about the future of private deep-sea exploration.
With conflicting narratives and unresolved safety concerns, this tragedy continues to cast a shadow over the once-promising vision of exploring the ocean’s depths.