Former engineering director for the Titan submersible says he felt pressured to get the vessel ready
The US Coast Guard presented animation Monday on the first day of what is expected to be a two-week hearing on the causes of the implosion which killed five people aboard The Titan submersible.
According to The Associated Press, the crew reportedly lost contact after an exchange of texts about the submersible’s depth and weight as it descended. The Polar Prince then reportedly sent repeated messages asking if the Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display. One of Titan’s final responses, which became spotty as it descended, was “all good here.”
The Titan imploded on June 18, 2023.
According to the AP News article, the submersible was allegedly left exposed to the elements while in storage for seven months in 2022 and 2023. Coast Guard representatives said in their initial remarks Monday, that the hull was also never reviewed by any third parties as is standard procedure.
AP News said the hearing’s first witness, OceanGate’s former engineering director, Tony Nissen, testified Monday, that he felt rushed to start operations during his time with the company. When asked if there was pressure to get the Titan into the water, he responded “100%.”
The marine board also asked Nissen if he felt that the pressure compromised safety decisions and testing. After a long pause, he responded, “No. … That’s a difficult question to answer, because given infinite time and infinite budget, you could do infinite testing.”
Nissen also noted that the Titan was struck by lightning during a test mission in 2018, and that might have compromised its hull. He said he was fired in 2019, the same year he wouldn’t let the submersible go to the Titanic.
The former engineering director said the submersible later went through other tests and adjustments before its subsequent dives to the Titanic. However, he said he didn’t trust the operations staff and testified that when Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate, asked him to pilot the submersible, he replied: “I’m not getting in it.”
The ongoing Marine Board of Investigation is the highest level of marine casualty investigation conducted by the Coast Guard. AP News reports that when the hearing concludes, recommendations will be submitted to the Coast Guard’s commandant. The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting an investigation.
The search for the submersible attracted worldwide attention, as it became increasingly unlikely that anyone could have survived the implosion. Wreckage of the Titan was subsequently found on the ocean floor about 330 yards (300 meters) off the bow of the Titanic, Coast Guard officials said.
