The board determined the primary contributing factors were OceanGate’s inadequate design, certification, maintenance and inspection process for the Titan. Other factors cited in the report include a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate, an inadequate domestic and international regulatory framework for submersible operations and vessels of novel design, and an ineffective whistleblower process under the Seaman’s Protection Act.
The board also found OceanGate failed to properly investigate and address known hull anomalies following its 2022 Titanic expedition. Investigators determined the Titan’s real-time monitoring system generated data that should have been analyzed and acted on during the 2022 Titanic expedition. However, OceanGate did not take any action related to the data, conduct any preventative maintenance or properly store the Titan during the extended off season before its 2023 Titanic expedition.
It absolutely blew my mind how many times he clearly heard the carbon fiber cracking under the pressure yet constantly explained it away as not a big deal. And despite having acoustic sensors meant to identify when that cracking was likely to be a major problem he ignored that as well.
IKR? It doesn’t take a genius or even an engineering degree to figure out that if you’re inside a vessel under intense pressure and that vessel is made of a bunch of fibers that are glued together, cracking sounds are no bueno.