OceanGate Warned of "Catastrophic" Titanic Mission Problems

OceanGate's submersible craft, named Titan, went missing in the Atlantic Ocean with five people onboard during a mission to tour the Titanic's wreckage.

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Prior to the incident, the company received warnings from experts both inside and outside the company regarding potential dangers and the need for certification.

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In March 2018, over three dozen industry leaders, deep-sea explorers, and oceanographers sent a letter to OceanGate's CEO, Stockton Rush, expressing concerns about the company's experimental approach

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These warnings criticized OceanGate's refusal to have the Titan inspected and certified by leading agencies and called for testing under the supervision of a third-party certification company.

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The company's leaders held a tense meeting to discuss the situation after receiving the report from David Lochridge.

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The company argued that certification would stifle innovation and that getting certified by usual assessment agencies would be time-consuming.

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Submersibles like the Titan are largely unregulated, especially when operating in international waters, and do not need to comply with certain regulations

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