Titan sub hearings live: OceanGate co-founder had said ‘no-one is dying under my watch’ before tragic submersible implosion
Phil Brooks, a former engineering director for OceanGate, is currently testifying
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein was the first to testify before the US Coast Guard on Monday. He offered insight into the business but told investigators he’s not sure if the public will ever know what led to the tragedy.
Sohnlein and Stockton Rush founded the company in 2009. Rush was among the five people who died when the submersible imploded in June 2023.
The former CEO left the company in 2013 but after the submersible’s implosion, he defended his former business partner. Sohnlein told investigators he wants the world to honor his friends by continuing deep-sea exploration.
Roy Thomas, a senior principal engineer with the American Bureau of Shipping, provided testimony on the nuances of carbon fiber materials used to make the Titan’s hull. He said OceanGate never made any attempts to classify their vessel with the agency, one of the main regulators for submersibles in the world.
Had it been recognized, the vessel would have undergone several assessments ensuring its safety. Rush once called classification “an impediment to innovation” and told an employee getting inside Titan is “one of the safest things I will ever do,” adding, “no-one is dying under my watch — period.”
Hearing taking a short break
The US Coast Guard’s hearing into the Titan tragedy is on a short break. It will reconvene momentarily.
Watch: Coast Guard releases footage that provided ‘conclusive evidence’ that Titan passengers died
Phil Brooks, former engineering director for OceanGate, currently testifying
The hearing is back in session. Brooks is currently giving details on his background and career.
Who is OceanGate co-founder?
Guillermo Sohnlein founded Titan owner OceanGate with CEO Stockton Rush in 2009.
Sohnlein left the company in 2013 but after the submersible’s implosion, he came to Rush's defense, asserting his former business partner was "committed" to safety.
He said: "[Rush] was very much focused on safety. I think the next regret he would have is the company not continuing operations and not being able to keep going and getting beyond Titanic because Titanic was really just a means to an end for business.
"It was really to get to a point where the subs would be chartered by people all over the world to do all sorts of interesting projects and learn more about our oceans."
Sohnlein has previously laid out plans to colonize the Moon and has hopes to send humans to Venus.
US Coast Guard releases exhibits ahead of hearing
Photos and exhibits pertaining to the investigation are available on Twitter. One set of documents shows the mapped location of the Titan’s debris on the seafloor. The other photo is of the submersible’s dome previously referenced in testimony.
Hearing taking a lunch break will return at 1.30pm ET
Phil Brooks, former OceanGate engineering director, is next to speak
OceanGate’s decision to store Titan outside could’ve led to materials degrading
The American Bureau of Shipping recommends sub owners store vessels in controlled environments. The US Coast Guard stated that OceanGate stored the submersible outside during winter.
“To expose it to the elements could possibly lead to degradation of the materials,” Thomas, the engineer, said.
If the Titan submersible had been classified, ABS engineers would’ve needed to clear it after issues
Following the incidents in which the Titan’s dome fell off and a customer heard a “loud banging” noise, an engineer for the ABS would’ve conducted extensive tests to ensure the vessel was safe, had it been classified.
The Titan submersible was not classified by the agency.
Carbon fiber hulls are susceptible to ‘deformation’ Thomas states
The engineer from the American Bureau of Shipping has prepared a slideshow presentation for the panel detailing the challenges of carbon fiber materials.
He’s said carbon fiber is not an approved material for classification. Additionally, the Titan’s hull would have been susceptible to “deformation under applied external loading.”
Currently, there are no recognized national/international standards for carbon fiber pressure hulls for submersibles.
Stockton Rush once said ‘No-one is dying under my watch — period’
A transcript of a meeting between Rush and the former director of marine operations for OceanGate, David Lochridge, was made public ahead of the Coast Guard’s hearing on Monday.
The discussion captures Rush stating “No-one is dying under my watch - period,” after Lochridge raised safety concerns.
Rush responded: “I have no desire to die... I think this is one of the safest things I will ever do.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments