The carbon fiber hull of the experimental Titan submersible, which tragically imploded en route to the Titanic wreck in 2023, had notable flaws dating back to its manufacturing process, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
These imperfections, which included wrinkles, porosity, and voids, significantly affected the sub’s structural integrity, an NTSB engineer, Don Kramer, revealed during a Coast Guard investigation.
Kramer testified that Titan’s carbon fiber hull displayed signs of delamination—a critical issue where layers of material separate—in the pieces recovered after the accident. This delamination, combined with other manufacturing inconsistencies, played a role in the failure of the submersible’s pressure hull.
Unfolding Evidence of Manufacturing Imperfections
During a dive on July 15, 2022, a year prior to the disaster, two different sensors on Titan recorded a loud acoustic event. Witnesses at the hearing described this sound as an indicator of hull stress.
Kramer explained that this incident suggested the hull was behaving abnormally even before the tragic 2023 dive.
Stockton Rush, the co-founder of OceanGate and one of the five individuals who perished in the June 2023 implosion, had been part of the mission to explore the wreck of the Titanic.
The implosion raised serious questions about Titan’s design and construction, particularly its unconventional use of carbon fiber—a material not commonly employed in submersibles.
Industry Experts Weigh In on OceanGate’s Oversight
William Kohnen, a long-standing expert in submersibles and a member of the Marine Technology Society, testified following Kramer’s statements.
Kohnen, a vocal critic of OceanGate, labeled the implosion a preventable tragedy. He emphasized that although Titan was an experimental vessel, stringent testing procedures are available and legally required.
Kohnen pointed out that these procedures were not followed, casting further doubt on the decisions made by OceanGate.
Earlier testimony indicated that the Titan submersible had not undergone independent review—a standard practice in the industry for ensuring safety.
This omission, combined with the unique carbon fiber design, led to scrutiny from the undersea exploration community long before the tragedy occurred.
OceanGate’s Internal Struggles Emerge
Another significant voice at the hearing was David Lochridge, the former director of operations at OceanGate. Lochridge recounted how he repeatedly clashed with Rush over the company’s priorities.
He described a culture focused more on profit and had weakened the hull over time, potentially leading to the sub’s catastrophic failure. Kramer also highlighted that on a previous dive in July 2022, sensors on Titan recorded a loud acoustic event, which some witnesses described as an ominous “bang.”
This noise, captured by two different sensors, hinted at underlying structural issues that foreshadowed the fatal implosion.
Experts Raise Concerns About Titan’s Testing and Safety
In addition to Kramer’s findings, William Kohnen, a seasoned submersibles expert, took the stand to criticize OceanGate, the company behind Titan, for its lack of thorough testing before launching the sub for commercial use.
Kohnen argued that even though the sub was experimental, there were established safety procedures that OceanGate could have followed to ensure its reliability.
“We have test protocols enshrined in law for a reason,” Kohnen said, pushing back on the notion that Titan’s experimental nature excused it from stringent testing.
He emphasized that the tragedy was preventable and pointed to OceanGate’s hasty approach to undersea exploration as a key factor in the implosion.
OceanGate’s Troubled Path and Scrutiny from the Submersibles Community
The investigation has also shed light on the company’s internal struggles and controversial decisions leading up to the disaster.
David Lochridge, former director of operations at OceanGate, testified earlier in the hearing, stating that he frequently clashed with Stockton Rush, the co-founder of OceanGate and one of the five people who perished in the June 2023 implosion.
Lochridge described a company more focused on profit than on the necessary safety precautions, painting a picture of rushed development and disregard for cautionary advice.
Rush’s experimental and unconventional design for Titan was not subject to an independent safety review, as is customary in the submersibles industry, according to Coast Guard officials.
This lack of oversight, combined with Titan’s use of carbon fiber for its pressure hull, raised eyebrows in the undersea exploration community, which had previously questioned the sub’s design.
OceanGate Suspends Operations Following Disaster
Since the implosion, OceanGate has suspended all operations. The company, based in Washington state, currently has no full-time employees and has been represented only by legal counsel during the ongoing investigation.
The inquiry, which aims to determine the exact cause of the implosion, has attracted global attention, raising questions about the future of private submersible exploration.
Despite the company’s setbacks, OceanGate’s co-founder, Guillermo Sohnlein, expressed hope that this tragic event would spark renewed interest in deep-sea exploration.
Sohnlein, who left the company before the incident, said on Monday that he wished the disaster would serve as a reminder of the importance of safety in exploration.
Tragic Final Moments of Titan’s Crew
The final dive of the Titan submersible took place on June 18, 2023, when the crew lost communication with their support ship, the Polar Prince, during their descent toward the Titanic wreck.
According to testimony, Titan’s crew exchanged texts with Polar Prince, discussing the sub’s depth and weight. One of the last messages sent from the sub read, “all good here,” just before the implosion occurred.
When Titan failed to resurface, an international search-and-rescue operation was launched.
Unfortunately, wreckage from the sub was found approximately 330 yards (300 meters) from the bow of the Titanic, confirming the tragic loss of all five people aboard.
