- An explorer who had signed up to embark on the Titan sub to witness the Titanic canceled their trip due to safety concerns.
- In his statement, Chris Brown expressed his apprehension about the numerous risks that were beyond his control.
- OceanGate’s safety standards have also been questioned by several others.
A prospective passenger who intended to explore the missing Titan sub decided against it, citing concerns that the operation didn’t meet professional diving standards.
Chris Brown, an explorer who had interactions with individuals connected to the submersible, explained to CNN that he does not derive any satisfaction from realizing he managed to avoid a potentially fatal journey.
The ongoing efforts to locate the lost submersible, which has been missing since Sunday, have not provided clear indications regarding its condition. Even if the vessel is found, the remaining occupants, including Stockton Rush, the co-founder of OceanGate, are estimated to have only a few hours’ worth of oxygen left.
In 2017, Brown signed up to visit the Titanic aboard the Titan. However, he requested a refund of his deposit the following year. As the vessel has made multiple journeys during that period, it is uncertain whether Brown would have been one of the passengers onboard on Sunday.
Brown withdrew his deposit after analyzing the situation and realizing “there seemed to be a lot of risks that were outside of my control.”
He stated, “I was dissatisfied with the approach taken by the company.” As an example, Brown highlighted OceanGate’s failure to meet its own targets regarding depths and timing.
Independent verification of Brown’s claims was not possible for Insider.
Moreover, Brown observed that the submersible used industrial casing as ballast and was controlled by an Xbox controller. He found these aspects to be off-putting.
Various commentators have also mentioned that the vessel, which lacks standard classifications, has a homemade quality, although experts have explained that video game controllers are commonly employed in submersible vehicles.
In a CBS News video tour from 2022, Rush can be seen pointing out a component inside the vessel, mentioning that it was obtained from Camper World. He stated, “We can use these off-the-shelf components.”
Brown, during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, described the sub as hastily constructed for crossing a river.
Consequently, Brown requested a refund of his deposit, which amounted to approximately $110,000 in 2018.
Brown is not the first to have expressed concerns about the safety of the Titan, as previous passengers have encountered communication issues. A lawsuit filed in 2018 also raised concerns about poor quality control.
Rush himself has exhibited ambivalence regarding safety regulations, suggesting in previous interviews that they hinder innovation.
Insider’s request for comment on these remarks from OceanGate went unanswered.
