OceanGate Adjusts Safety Measures When Accommodating Journalists and Celebrities on Submersible Vessels

• Earlier this year, a journalist’s trip on OceanGate’s Titan submersible was canceled due to specific factors such as weather conditions and the presence of certain individuals.
• According to the journalist, trips were canceled if there were winds over 10 knots, a new team member on board, or if a celebrity or journalist was present.

OceanGate seemed to prioritize the safety of journalists and celebrities over its paying customers when it came to diving in its Titan submersible, as reported by travel editor Arnie Weissmann, who had his own trip canceled earlier this year.

Weissmann, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, was scheduled to dive to the wreck of the Titanic in May, but his trip was ultimately called off due to wind, swells, and fog, according to the company.

In an article about his experience, Weissmann questioned whether the presence of a journalist would be the deciding factor in canceling a dive that otherwise met safety requirements.

OceanGate charged $250,000 per person for the dive, with one potential passenger claiming to have been offered a discounted ticket for $150,000.

Weissmann also speculated that weather may not have been the sole reason for the cancellation of his trip, suggesting that the readiness of the submersible could have been a factor.

When contacted for comment, OceanGate did not respond during non-business hours.

Weissmann did acknowledge that he was impressed by the cautious approach taken by OceanGate during his interactions with the team, including CEO Stockton Rush, who tragically died on a later trip.

Despite the cancellation of his own dive, Weissmann expressed confidence in the safety measures taken by OceanGate.

However, the recent incident has brought attention to previous concerns about the safety of the Titan submersible.

Rush and OceanGate have consistently maintained the vessel’s safety, dismissing certain safety regulations as hindrances to innovation.