Titan: The OceanGate Disaster

In 2013, OceanGate's collaboration with Boeing produced an initial carbon-fiber hull concept. Boeing concluded there was a major risk of failure well before the Titanic's depth, and the partnership ended. Stockton Rush then moved to pursue in-house engineering for the submersible.

The Applied Physics Lab at the University of Washington provided engineering support and tested the carbon-fiber hull to depths of 4100 meters. The tests showed the hull survived but highlighted significant risks and potential failure modes. This fed ongoing safety debates.

Lochridge warned about hull design flaws and demanded independent inspection; Stockton fired him after a detailed risk report. Lochridge's whistleblower complaint and subsequent legal actions against OceanGate followed, with government investigations slow and ultimately inconclusive. The company continued under pressure from internal concerns.

Emily was sent to the Bahamas where Titan was being tested. The hull popped and cracked as depth increased, confirming earlier warnings. Nissen had warned of this exact risk, but Stockton hid the hull data from public view, and the plan to redevelop the hull continued.

A 3rd scale model was tested in July 2020 and failed at 3000 meters, showing persistent structural weaknesses. Despite repeated failures, Stockton proceeded with building a full-scale hull while the COVID-19 pandemic delayed some activities. The project pressed on with urgency.

The first dives to the Titanic occurred in 2021 and initial attempts were described as successful. Paul-Henry Nargeolet joined the expedition as a Titanic expert, lending credibility to the venture, while Stockton often piloted dives himself. Public attention grew as early successes framed the project.

In 2022, OceanGate invited the press to cover Operations Season 2 and portrayed a flashy safety culture. The presence of Nargeolet added credibility to the enterprise, but critics noted the growing risk and Stockton's hands-on piloting of many dives. The film documents tensions between ambition and safety.

On dive 80 in 2023, a loud bang occurred during ascent and the 'pop' noises intensified on subsequent dives. The submersible subsequently failed, signaling a breakdown that would culminate in disaster. The crew faced mounting signs something was wrong.

Communications with Titan and the mother ship MV Polar Prince were lost 1 hour 33 minutes into the dive; authorities were alerted when Titan failed to resurface later the same day. A search and rescue effort by the US Coast Guard and others unfolded as air resources and underwater assets were deployed. The urgency to locate survivors dominated the narrative.

After four days missing, a remotely operated vehicle discovered a debris field containing Titan components about 500 meters from the Titanic's bow. The United States Navy sonar detected an acoustic signature consistent with an implosion, indicating instantaneous deaths for all five occupants. The tragedy was confirmed.

The US Coast Guard investigation concluded the implosion was preventable and blamed OceanGate's failure to follow established engineering, safety, and maintenance protocols. The report also noted intimidation tactics and regulatory evasion used by the company to avoid scrutiny. The findings highlighted systemic safety failures.

Stockton Rush is portrayed as an arrogant leader who sought to commercialize deep-sea access and wanted to classify the vessel in the Bahamas to sidestep US jurisdiction. He tended to blame others and often took the pilot's seat, putting himself at risk. The film suggests a culture where safety concerns were suppressed.

OceanGate had already taken payments from customers for Titan dives and planned to start offering voyages from 2018, with tickets priced at $105,129. The urgency to complete the vessel was driven by business goals and bookings. The timeline shows how commercial aims intersected with safety concerns.