LONDON: Warnings about the safety of OceanGate’s Titan submersible were repeatedly disregarded by the CEO of the company, as revealed in email exchanges with a prominent deep-sea exploration specialist, according to documents viewed by the BBC.
Rob McCallum, the specialist in question, informed OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush that he was potentially jeopardising the well-being of his clients and urged him to halt the use of the submersible until it had obtained classification from an independent body.
In response, Rush contended that he was “weary of industry participants who employ safety arguments to impede progress and innovation.” The tense dialogue came to a close when OceanGate’s legal representatives threatened legal action, according to Mr McCallum. “I believe you are exposing yourself and your clients to a hazardous situation,” he wrote to the OceanGate chief in March 2018. “In your pursuit of the Titanic, you are emulating that famous refrain: ‘She is unsinkable’.”
Within the messages, Rush, who was among the five passengers who perished when the Titan experienced what authorities believe was a “catastrophic implosion” on Sunday, expressed exasperation at the criticism aimed at the safety measures of the Titan. “We have consistently heard the unsubstantiated cries of ‘you will cause fatalities’,” he penned. “I perceive this as a personal and serious affront.”
McCallum informed the BBC that he repeatedly implored the company to obtain certification for the Titan before employing it for commercial tours. However, the vessel was never certified or classified. “Until a submersible is classified, tested, and proven, it should not be utilised for deep-sea commercial operations,” he wrote in one email. “I earnestly beseech you to exercise the utmost caution in your testing and sea trials and to adopt an extremely prudent approach. Despite my admiration for entrepreneurship and innovation, you are potentially endangering the entire industry.”
In his subsequent reply, Mr Rush defended his enterprise and his qualifications. He stated that OceanGate’s “engineering-focused, innovative approach… challenges conventional submersible practices, but that is the essence of innovation.”
