Coast Guard to hear from ex-OceanGate staff on Titan implosion

David Lochridge, former operations director for OceanGate, is set to testify in a hearing investigating the Titan submersible's implosion during its dive to the Titanic wreck in June 2023, which resulted in the deaths of all five crew members. The hearing follows testimonies from other former employees, including Tony Nissen, the ex-engineering director, who expressed feeling pressured to prepare the Titan for dives, indicating a culture of urgency within the company. Nissen had previously refused to pilot the vessel due to safety concerns, highlighting the internal conflicts regarding the submersible's safety. During the Titan's last dive, communication was lost after the crew sent a message indicating everything was fine. The submersible was later found near the Titanic wreck, prompting a global discussion on the safety of private underwater exploration. The Coast Guard is conducting a Marine Board of Investigation, the highest level of marine casualty investigation, to determine the causes of the incident. The investigation has drawn attention to OceanGate's operational practices and the design of the Titan, which faced scrutiny from the undersea exploration community. Witnesses, including OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein and former scientific director Steven Ross, are expected to provide further insights into the company's practices and the events leading up to the tragedy. The absence of Wendy Rush, the communications director and widow of the company’s CEO, from the witness list has raised questions, but the Coast Guard has not commented on specific individuals' absence. OceanGate currently has no full-time employees but will be represented by legal counsel during the hearings.