Titan submersible implosion hearing reveals key evidence from OceanGate

On June 18, 2022, the Titan submersible, operated by OceanGate, tragically imploded while exploring the Titanic wreck, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including two British businessmen. During a hearing, Tony Nissen, the former engineering director of OceanGate, provided insights into the company's internal dynamics and engineering decisions. He revealed that Stockton Rush, the company's CEO who also perished in the incident, was primarily responsible for engineering choices, often leading to disagreements over design aspects. Nissen discussed the collaboration between OceanGate and the University of Washington's Applied Physics Lab, highlighting a significant disagreement regarding the use of glass spheres in the submersible's design, which led to the departure of principal engineer Pete Brodsky from the project. Nissen expressed his initial intrigue about the Titan's carbon fiber hull but noted that he was unaware of the plans to visit the Titanic wreck when he joined the company in 2016. The hearing also addressed the lack of classification for the Titan submersible, with Nissen stating that Rush frequently vacillated on the issue, ultimately leading to no formal classification. This absence of oversight raised concerns about the safety and engineering standards of the vessel. The Polar Prince, the support vessel for Titan, reported the submersible missing after failing to establish communication. The Canadian Coast Guard was contacted after a prolonged search, revealing that there were no prior communications indicating any emergency on board the Titan, which was operating at a depth of approximately 3,341 meters at the time of the incident.