OceanGate: The Search for Titan Continues
The search still remains underway for the five man crew Titan submersible that went missing on Monday, June 19th, 2023. Despite days of searching, officials have yet to locate the vessel. Originating from the Canadian Polar Prince, the Titan submersible launched from St. John’s, Newfoundland on Saturday, June 17th, 2023. What was supposed to be a 10-hour tour, has now expanded into days, as the world continues to wait, watch, and pray for a successful rescue operation.
Polar Prince’s Navigational status states that it is “underway” and currently “using [its] engine,” as the crew continues to search for the missing OceanGate submersible. Despite critical peer reviews, Stockton pressed forward with the underwater diving contraption, ultimately bringing Titan to market, allegedly before it could be properly tested using a prototype-testing program.
Previous Warnings
On March 27th, 2018, OceanGate received a letter from the Marine Technology Society (MTS). The letter read “Dear Stockton, The letter is sent on behalf of our industry members who have collectively expressed unanimous concern regarding the development of ‘TITAN’ and the planned Titanic Expedition. Our apprehension is that the current ‘experimental’ approach adopted by Oceangate could result in negative outcomes (from minor to catastrophic) that would have serious consequences for everyone in the industry”
The message went on to report that the MUV industry had a 40-year record of an “enviable safety track,” however cited concerns that OceanGate had failed to follow the DNV-GL safety standards required to ensure the continuation of that 40-year track record of ‘enviable safety’. Recommending a “prototype testing program that is reviewed and witnessed by DNV-GL (or ABS),” alongside OceanGate’s performance-based testing program. Stockton made the executive decision that OceanGate would bypass those suggestions, moving the product to market, in an effort to recoup his investment.
After just fourteen successful expeditions, Stockton decided that it was time to recoup his initial investments into the submersible. It was time to make some income. Stockton next began attaining one million dollars per expedition, selling four seats at $250,000.00 each. Basing the submersible’s safety on performance, OceanGate’s official website boasts a 3mph speed and “Real Time Health Monitoring,” failing to disclose any safety specifications or reviewed testing. Stockton’s neglect led to his contraption presenting a serious and unregulated danger to those willing to pay for the experience. Had participants known of the bypassed safety precautions and alleged failure to meet specified DNV-GL class rules, may have prevented this current situation.
Stockton’s Submersible
Stockton Rush’s Titan submersible is maneuvered using a cheap video game controller. While video game controllers are tested to be resilient under consistent use, they are not created with the intention of safely maneuvering a 23,000-lb submersible. Implementing an extremely dangerous and required variable, Stockton put lives on the line, placing total reliance on the durability of a mass-produced gamepad. This is just one of the many factors potentially responsible for the current deepsea crisis.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, a “deep ocean is cold, with an average temperature of only 4˚C (39˚F). Cold water is also more dense, and as a result heavier, than warm water. Colder water sinks below the warm water at the surface, which contributes to the coldness of the deep ocean.” This means not only are the passengers confined to the vessel in total darkness, but they are experiencing near-freezing cold temperatures. Unable to stand, the crew sits cramped inside the cylindrical vessel waiting to be discovered by radar, sonar, or other means.
An infographic from the New York Post reveals that OceanGate placed a bathroom in the craft, covered by a curtain when in use. At this point, the curtain may likely be used to keep warm, as the crew remains captive in frigid temperatures and complete darkness. With 5-inch thick walls, the five men remain sealed into the capsule, bolted from the outside.
Stockton and his company OceanGate should have placed the same level of safety on the submersible as used by official institutions like the U.S. National Guard, SpaceX, NASA, and the Navy. Instead, meeting the standard safety regulations was allegedly omitted before pushing the product on the public. While OceanGate is a private company, it must provide the same assurance of safety as other institutions that engage in similar expeditions.
Though few vessels on Earth can descend to the depths of OceanGate’s Titan, there was little planning for backup solutions. While the Titan submersible features seven different methods of returning to the surface in the case of necessity, more attention should have been given to secondary solutions.
Banging Sounds
Rolling Stone Magazine reported receiving internal updates from the Department of Homeland Security, that stated banging sounds were heard. On June 21st, 2023, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Northeast reported that a Canadian P-3 aircraft had detected “underwater noises” in the search. As we wait for further live updates, the USCG and others put their search into overdrive, while the remaining oxygen levels deplete. It is unspecified if the “banging noises” had originated from the submersible, however, search and rescue teams continue to remain hopeful.
Conclusion
With nearly 24 hours of life-support left, we can only hope that the crew is soon found. The second hope we must hold is that the submersible is within reach of the National Guard or Naval forces. This event has brought together the attention of the world, as citizens on every continent await the fate of the OceanGate Titan and the five individuals trapped inside.
Bibliography
Geo-matching. (Accessed on June 21st, 2023). Interview with OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush | Geo-matching.com. https://geo-matching.com/content/interview-with-oceangate-ceo-stockton-rush.
Nypost. (Accessed on June 21st, 2023). Missing onboard Titanic-bound sub likely experiencing 'very uncomfortable, dark experience'. https://nypost.com/2023/06/20/missing-onboard-titanic-bound-sub-likely-experiencing-very-uncomfortable-dark-experience/?dicbo=v2-RvMWpIb.
Nypost. (Accessed on June 21st, 2023). Rescue of lost Titanic-bound sub would be deepest recovery mission in history. https://nypost.com/2023/06/19/rescue-of-lost-titanic-bound-sub-would-be-deepest-recovery-mission-in-history/.
Oceanexplorer. (Accessed on June 21st, 2023). How does the temperature of ocean water vary? : Ocean Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/temp-vary.html.
Oceangate. (Accessed on June 21st, 2023). Titan Submersible. https://oceangate.com/our-subs/titan-submersible.html.
Rollingstone. (n.d.). Missing Titanic Sub: ‘Banging’ Sounds Heard During Search – Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/titanic-submersible-missing-searchers-heard-banging-1234774674/.
Twitter. (Accessed on June 21st, 2023). USCGNortheast on Twitter: "Canadian P-3 aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area. As a result, ROV operations were relocated in an attempt to explore the origin of the noises. Those ROV searches have yielded negative results but continue. 1/2" / Twitter. ttps://twitter.com/uscgnortheast/status/1671372007110320128?s=61&t=FdmftoTqjW_45C5fiVUBKg.