Coast Guard Concludes Third Day of Hearing on Titan Submersible’s Implosion

Renata Rojas, a mission specialist for OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan submersible which tragically imploded last year, defended the firm’s reputation in a recent testimony to the U.S. Coast Guard. On Thursday, she stated that the company consisted of skilled individuals committed to fulfilling ambitious explorative dreams.

Her appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the catastrophic event. Rojas followed a series of witnesses, some of whom characterized OceanGate as an organization plagued by issues from the leadership level, prioritizing profits over scientific endeavors and safety.

Rojas began her testimony on a more positive note compared to others, stating, “I was learning a lot and working with amazing people. Some of those people are very hard-working individuals that were just trying to make dreams come true.”

The public hearing, which commenced on September 16, is a crucial component of the Coast Guard’s investigation aimed at unraveling the factors that led to the Titan’s implosion. Testimonies have revealed concerning practices within the organization leading up to the disastrous dive in June 2023, which claimed the lives of five individuals, including OceanGate’s co-founder Stockton Rush.

David Lochridge, the former operations director at OceanGate, provided a stark contrast to Rojas’ perspective. He reported frequent disagreements with Rush and expressed concern over a business focus that prioritized profit over safety and scientific integrity. “The whole idea behind the company was to make money,” Lochridge stated emphatically. “There was very little in the way of science.”

As the proceedings continue, another former OceanGate scientific director, Steven Ross, was expected to speak. The testimonies might extend through Friday and resume the following week, with anticipation building over insights from additional witnesses.

The hearing has revealed a narrative of a company that appeared driven by a desire to hastily deploy its uniquely designed submersible into operational waters. This tragic incident has sparked an international discourse on the future of private underwater exploration, raising profound questions about safety measures and operational protocols.

Coast Guard officials initially highlighted the fact that the Titan had not undergone an independent review, a critical procedure in the field of explorative undersea technology. Concerns were raised about the unconventional design of the Titan, which further intensified scrutiny from various stakeholders in the underwater exploration domain.

Since the fatal implosion, OceanGate has halted its operations. At present, the company operates without any full-time employees and has been represented by legal counsel throughout the hearing process.

On June 18, 2023, during the Titan’s fateful dive, communication was lost after the crew exchanged messages regarding its depth and weight as it descended. The vessel, supported by the ship Polar Prince, continued to receive messages requesting confirmation of the Titan’s visual contact with the support vessel.

One of the final messages sent by the Titan’s crew conveyed a reassuring note—“all good here”—just moments before the submersible imploded. A visual reenactment shared earlier in the hearing illustrated the moments leading up to the tragedy.

Following the Titan’s disappearance, rescue efforts mobilized ships, planes, and various resources to search a remote area approximately 435 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Tragically, four days later, the wreckage of the Titan was discovered about 330 yards off the Titanic’s bow, confirming that there were no survivors on board.

In light of these events, OceanGate has publicly stated that it has been fully cooperating with both the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigations since their inception. The Titan had been making expeditions to the Titanic wreck site since 2021, prior to the ill-fated dive.