- An industry expert claims Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, had a cunning ability to persuade influential individuals that the Titan submersible was safe.
- Patrick Lahey, president of Triton Submarines, describes Rush’s talent as “predatory” in nature.
- Rush once assured a potential client that a trip on the Titan was even “safer than crossing the street.”
An industry expert reveals that Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, had a manipulative agenda to gather support for his ill-fated Titan submersible.
Last week, Rush and four other passengers tragically perished during a dive to the Titanic wreckage, indicating a catastrophic implosion.
Patrick Lahey, president of Triton Submarines and a close friend of the late Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a passenger on the Titan, shared with The Times that Rush possessed a skill for convincing even the most knowledgeable individuals about the sub’s safety.
Lahey states, “He could even convince someone who knew and understood the risks… it was really quite predatory.”
Lahey admits to warning Nargeolet, referred to as “PH,” about the dangers involved. According to The Times, he shared, “I told him in very candid terms why he shouldn’t be out there.”
“He understood. I believe PH thought in some way that by being out there he could help these guys avoid a tragedy but instead he ended up in the middle of one,” Lahey adds.
Describing the Titan as a “monstrosity,” Lahey made it clear to Nargeolet that joining the expedition would mean endorsing an unsafe mission.
Previously, we reported on Rush dismissing safety concerns raised by potential passengers.
Financier Jay Bloom claims that Rush approached him before the ill-fated trip to the Titanic, offering discounted tickets for $150,000 as opposed to the original price of $250,000.
Bloom attempted to raise safety concerns with Rush, who rebutted by stating that the trip was “safer than crossing the street.”
Rush insisted, “While there’s obviously risk, it’s way safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving. There hasn’t been even an injury in 35 years in a non-military sub.”
In a Facebook post, Bloom expressed, “I am sure he really believed what he was saying. But he was very wrong.”
Although the cause of the implosion remains unknown, the submersible’s design has long been criticized by industry leaders.
Rush was aware of these concerns. In a 2018 court filing, former OceanGate employee David Lochridge filed a lawsuit claiming he was terminated for highlighting safety issues in a scathing report.
During a 2021 interview, Rush acknowledged that he had “broken some rules” by utilizing unconventional and cheaper materials. However, he firmly believed that his design was secure due to “logic and good engineering.”
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
