Guillermo Sohnlein, co-founder of OceanGate, is set to testify before the US Coast Guard on Monday (September 23), as part of an ongoing investigation into the tragic June 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible, which was descending to the Titanic wreck site.
The disaster claimed the lives of five people, including Sohnlein's co-founder, Stockton Rush, who piloted the vessel.
Titan Submersible Disaster
The hearing, which began on September 16, aims to uncover the cause of the implosion and explore potential negligence in OceanGate's operations.
Sohnlein, who co-founded the company with Rush but left years prior to the incident, will likely provide insight into the company's internal practices and decision-making, helping to determine whether safety concerns were adequately addressed.
On June 18, 2023, Titan lost communication with its support vessel, Polar Prince, during a dive to the Titanic wreck, located about 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) below sea level.
A massive search effort was launched, but the submersible's wreckage was found days later near the Titanic's bow. All five aboard, including tourists and OceanGate staff, were confirmed dead.
OceanGate has faced heavy scrutiny since the disaster, with questions arising about whether the submersible was properly tested for deep-sea missions.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Titan had not undergone independent safety reviews before embarking on these expeditions, which began in 2021. This lack of oversight is a central point in the investigation.
A key figure in the hearing is David Lochridge, OceanGate's former operations director, who testified that he repeatedly clashed with Stockton Rush over safety issues, AP News reported.
According to Lochridge, the company prioritized profit over safety, and he expressed serious concerns about the Titan's design, particularly its acrylic viewport, which was only certified to withstand depths of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).
Despite warnings, Rush pushed ahead with deeper dives to reach the Titanic wreck, located much further down at about 4,000 meters.
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Guillermo Sohnlein's Testimony
Sohnlein, who co-founded OceanGate with Rush, will be a critical voice in the investigation. Although he left the company years before the Titan implosion, his insights into the company's early operations could shed light on the mindset and culture that led to the disaster.
Sohnlein has defended OceanGate's mission of making deep-sea exploration more accessible, but critics argue that the company took reckless risks in pursuit of this goal.
According to CNN, his testimony may provide clarity on whether OceanGate's leadership, including Rush, overlooked safety protocols in their eagerness to push the boundaries of undersea exploration.
Sohnlein is also expected to address why the company did not seek independent safety certifications, a key factor in the investigation.
As the hearing continues, other key figures are expected to testify, including Phil Brooks, OceanGate's former engineering director, and Roy Thomas, an expert from the American Bureau of Shipping.
Their testimonies, combined with Sohnlein's, will help investigators determine whether the Titan disaster was preventable and whether OceanGate failed in its responsibility to ensure passenger safety.
The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have both been heavily involved in the investigation, which could result in stricter regulations for private deep-sea exploration companies. OceanGate has suspended operations since the implosion and is cooperating with the investigation.
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