A significant employee associated with the company that owned the experimental submersible that collapsed while heading to the Titanic wreck site responded to questions from a Coast Guard investigator concerning whether the company felt pressured to complete the dives due to the high cost involved. Amber Bay, the director of administration for the company that owned the ill-fated Titan submersible, affirmed that the company would not take risks in dives to meet demands. However, she acknowledged that there was a sense of urgency to fulfill commitments to those who had paid $250,000 to be “mission specialists.”
Bay acknowledged the importance of delivering on their promises and the dedication towards that goal during her testimony at a Coast Guard panel. Tragically, OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush was one of the five individuals who lost their lives when the submersible imploded in June 2023. The Coast Guard initiated a public hearing as part of the investigation into the cause of the implosion, with some testimonies highlighting issues within the company.
During the hearing, Bay addressed earlier statements from a former OceanGate contractor, Antonella Wilby, who raised safety concerns. Bay clarified that the concerns were respected at the time and refuted claims that safety was disregarded, emphasizing that her role did not involve engineering or operations. The emotional toll of the tragedy was evident as Bay broke down in tears while discussing the personal impact of losing people she knew.
Former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge also provided testimony, expressing clashes with Rush and his perception that the company prioritized profits over scientific endeavors. Witnesses portrayed a rush to deploy the submersible into the water, leading to a global debate on the future of private undersea exploration. Submersible pilot and designer Karl Stanley criticized OceanGate’s classification of paid passengers as “mission specialists” as an evasion of regulations.
Stanley also criticized the company’s business plan and suggested Rush’s aspiration to leave a historical mark contributed to the implosion. He indicated that the incident was not unforeseen based on available information. The hearing is ongoing and is expected to feature more witnesses associated with the company, providing further insights into the tragic event and OceanGate’s operations.
The Coast Guard emphasized that the submersible had not undergone independent review, a standard practice, and its unique design raised concerns within the undersea exploration community. OceanGate, headquartered in Washington state, halted operations following the implosion, with no current full-time staff but legal representation at the hearing. The company has been cooperative throughout the investigations conducted by the Coast Guard and NTSB since the incident.
The final dive of the submersible on June 18, 2023, resulted in a loss of contact after communications regarding Titan’s depth and weight. Search efforts commenced when the submersible was reported overdue, eventually locating its wreckage on the ocean floor near the Titanic. The tragic event claimed all lives aboard and was a devastating blow to the exploration community. OceanGate stated its commitment to assisting in the investigations as they strive to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
