Former OceanGate science chief recounts dangerous malfunction that occurred just days before the Titan’s doomed journey to the Titanic wreckage.
The Titan submersible, which tragically imploded during a voyage to explore the Titanic wreck in June 2023, killing all five passengers, experienced a serious malfunction just days before its fatal dive, according to testimony from a public inquiry. The sub’s former scientific director, Steven Ross, revealed that a prior incident had caused passengers to be thrown about inside the vessel, with one even left hanging upside down after the sub collided with a bulkhead.
Ross, who worked with OceanGate, the company behind the Titan, said it took over an hour for the support crew to retrieve the sub after this malfunction. He was uncertain whether the sub’s hull had been inspected for damage following the event. His testimony is part of a U.S. Coast Guard investigation, which is collecting evidence over two weeks regarding the sub’s catastrophic implosion.
Earlier in the inquiry, Renata Rojas, a volunteer who had been aboard the support vessel during the ill-fated June dive, shared her memories of watching the passengers depart for the Titanic site. “I saw five people smiling on their way to the journey,” Rojas recalled. She said the mission began smoothly, but communication with the Titan was soon lost, prompting concern among the crew.
Rojas, who was stationed as the “platform assistant” on the day of the dive, noted that initially, there was hope the sub was simply extending its time at the wreck. However, as the sub failed to resurface, discussions quickly shifted towards calling the Coast Guard for assistance. She mentioned that the Titan had 96 hours of life support, leaving room for potential rescue operations if the sub had become stuck on the ocean floor. But she emphasized that nothing could have been done if the hull had failed.
Further testimony from Rojas recounted an earlier mishap in 2021, where the dome of the submersible broke loose during retrieval. She said that the dome had initially been secured by just a few bolts, but after the incident, the crew reinforced it with 18 bolts for future missions.
Despite these incidents, Rojas, a Titanic enthusiast, maintained that she always felt safe during her dives with OceanGate. “I knew the risks and still chose to go,” she stated, adding that she found the company to be open and transparent about the dangers involved.
The inquiry will continue next week, as investigators dig deeper into the safety measures and design flaws that may have contributed to the Titan’s tragic end.
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved
