Failure to Ensure Design Lifetime Caused Catastrophic Implosion of Titan Sub

OceanGate’s sub Titan, which conducted over 80 dives before imploding last year, had no designated design lifetime, according to consulting engineer Bart Kemper. The company’s engineering team did not have a clear understanding of how long the hull was expected to last, operating on the principle that issues would be detected in time. Kemper criticized this approach, stating that it was inappropriate to operate a manned submersible without a design lifetime, especially when lives were at stake.

OceanGate CEO Richard Stockton Rush III reportedly knew the sub’s design lifetime was nearly up but chose to continue operating it, according to sub operator Karl Stanley. Stanley suggested that Rush wanted to make a name for himself and leave a mark on history, even if it meant risking the safety of those on board. The sub imploded during a commercial dive to the Titanic wreck site, resulting in the loss of all on board.

A forensic engineer from the National Transportation Safety Board highlighted manufacturing irregularities in OceanGate’s carbon fiber hull for the Titan. The hull had wrinkles, porosity, and voids within its layers, leading to cracking issues and ultimately the implosion of the sub. Despite warnings about its material condition, the operator continued to use the sub for revenue-generating dives, putting mission specialists at risk. The construction process of the hull revealed significant flaws, including delamination and voids in the adhesive between layers, contributing to the sub’s catastrophic failure.

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