NTSB Engineer: Titan Sub’s Carbon Fiber Hull Had Manufacturing Flaws

The investigation into the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible, which occurred during its voyage to the Titanic wreck, has revealed concerning details regarding the integrity of its carbon fiber hull. Engineer Don Kramer from the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the manufacturing process produced imperfections that affected the vessel’s performance. These deficiencies included wrinkles, porosity, and voids in the carbon fiber used for the pressure hull.

Kramer provided this insight during a Coast Guard panel discussion, indicating that two separate types of sensors aboard Titan had detected a “loud acoustic event” during a prior dive on July 15, 2022. This earlier incident raised alarms, which were echoed in subsequent witness testimony. After the implosion, investigations found significant delamination in the carbon fiber layers that had been bonded to form the hull of the Titan.

The submersible’s tragic fate claimed the lives of five individuals, including OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush. The company had set its sights on pioneering deep-sea exploration but has since faced intense scrutiny following the disaster.

Testimony at the hearing continued with contributions from William Kohnen, a seasoned submersibles expert and member of the Marine Technology Society. Kohnen emerged as a critic of OceanGate after the incident, declaring the implosion preventable. He highlighted that the Titan could have undergone thorough testing, contradicting arguments about its experimental nature.

Kohnen remarked, “We do have these test procedures. They are enshrined in law,” reinforcing the necessity of stringent standards for new technologies, particularly those venturing into high-risk environments.

The ongoing public hearings, initiated earlier this month by the Coast Guard, are part of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the implosion. Central to the discussions has been the unusual carbon fiber construction of the submersible, which deviated from traditional designs and practices. Additionally, the company’s operational history was scrutinized.

Officials noted during the hearing that Titan had not undergone an independent review, a common practice intended to ensure safety and reliability in such projects. This oversight, combined with the unconventional design of the submersible, raised significant concerns among experts in the underwater exploration community.

Further elaborating on internal issues within OceanGate, former operations director David Lochridge recounted frequent disputes with Stockton Rush, suggesting that the company’s priorities were excessively focused on profit margins rather than safety. Such testimonies painted a broader picture of a company eager to launch its uniquely designed craft without sufficient caution.

The implosion ignited an international conversation regarding the future of private deep-sea exploration, raising questions about safety protocols and regulatory oversight in the industry. Witnesses at the hearing included individuals with close ties to OceanGate, as the proceedings aim to extract comprehensive insights into the operational and technical practices that led to the catastrophic event.

Guillermo Sohnlein, another co-founder of OceanGate, shared his hopes that the incident might encourage a revitalized interest in exploration, especially in the dangers of the ocean’s depths. Although Sohnlein departed from the company prior to the disaster, he expressed a desire for new initiatives to emerge from this tragedy.

Following the implosion, OceanGate suspended its operations and currently has no full-time employees. The company has been represented by an attorney through the hearings, indicating a significant shift in its operational landscape.

Details from the Titan’s last dive, which took place on June 18, 2023, revealed that the crew lost contact shortly after discussing the submersible’s depth and weight during its descent. Repeated inquiries from the support vessel, Polar Prince, regarding Titan’s position went unanswered.

One of the crew’s final messages to Polar Prince claimed that “all good here,” just before the submersible succumbed to the underwater pressures. When Titan was subsequently declared overdue, a massive search and rescue operation was launched in an area approximately 435 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Tragically, the wreckage was located on the ocean floor about 330 yards from the Titanic’s bow, with no survivors recovered from the incident.