OceanGate Expeditions, the owner and operator of the Titan submersible, recently experienced a “catastrophic implosion” during its journey to the Titanic shipwreck. Founded in 2009 by Guillermo Söhnlein and Stockton Rush, OceanGate aimed to build a fleet of three submersibles, including the Titan, to take tourists to the famous wreck. Although Söhnlein left the company a decade ago, Rush continued as CEO and developed three submersibles named Antipodes, Cyclops 1, and Titan.
OceanGate advertises its Titanic expedition as an eight-day trip that provides an extraordinary chance to step outside of everyday life. It offers up to four days spent underwater, assuring potential travelers of the vessel’s safety features, including 96 hours of oxygen. To participate, individuals must be at least 17 years old and purchase tickets for $250,000. The trip departs from St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada, and journeys 380 miles offshore before diving 12,500 feet to reach the Titanic.
The most recent expedition of the Titan, which took place on June 18, 2023, was the only OceanGate Titanic tour scheduled for that year. The decision to conduct only one tour was due to weather conditions, as explained by passenger Hamish Harding on his Instagram.
The Titan submersible, weighing 21,000 pounds and capable of traveling at a speed of 3 knots, had a single porthole for two people to look out of at any given time. Among the passengers were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Titanic specialist Paul-Henri Nargeolet, UK billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, and Pakistani billionaire Shanzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Sulaiman.
Regarding legal liability, legal experts have differing opinions on whether OceanGate faces potential lawsuits. While some believe the signed waivers, which explicitly state the risks involved, protect the company, others argue that gross negligence could leave room for legal action. Past allegations of negligence and recent claims by industry professionals that the Titan did not meet safety standards could be used as evidence in potential lawsuits.
The future of OceanGate remains uncertain after the Titan’s tragic implosion. The company’s survival will be considered by the board of directors in the coming weeks. Certain sections of OceanGate’s website were taken offline following the loss of the Titan. Additionally, the company is not expected to bear the costs of the rescue mission to recover the missing submersible.
Although the Titan had made two successful voyages to the Titanic since OceanGate began offering trips in 2021, the ill-fated mission that ended in tragedy was only the third such trip. German adventurer Arthur Loibl, who took the maiden voyage, described it as a “suicide mission” due to the risks involved. He encountered electrical issues and had to abandon a dive, but escaped unharmed. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the five passengers on the Titan during its final trip.
OceanGate Expedition’s Titan submersible, measuring 9 feet high, 8 feet wide, and 22 feet long, was a remarkable vessel with promising potential. However, the recent tragedy has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the company’s future.
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