The owner of the Titanic submersible, which imploded during an expedition to the Titanic wreckage, announced on the website the suspension of all commercial and exploration operations, although two expeditions to the Titanic are planned for June 2024.
“OceanGate has suspended its exploration and commercial operations,” the US company’s website reads, without further details.
The Titan, a small submersible 6.5 meters long, submerged on June 18 to observe the wreckage, lost contact less than two hours after departure, and after a major salvage operation, it was concluded that the device it imploded upon submersion, killing everyone. five passengers instantly, including OceanGate President Stockton Rush.
The remains, found at the bottom of the sea almost 4,000 meters deep, were brought ashore for analysis.
After the device disappeared, criticism focused on OceanGate, suspected of negligence.
In 2018 court documents, a former company executive, David Lochridge, claimed he was fired after raising concerns about the submersible’s safety and that the submersible’s porthole was not designed to withstand the pressure suffered at a depth of 4,000 meters. , which endanger passengers.
William Kohnen, an engineer who heads a US committee on manned submersibles, which brings together companies and researchers, told the BBC his task force had raised concerns about the “Titan” being developed by OceanGate.
OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Söhnlein said in late June that security was a “key element” of the company’s culture.
Source: TSF
