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Dark truths behind the Titan submarine tragedy revealed

2025-08-07 11:12:23Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Dark truths behind the Titan submarine tragedy revealed
David Lochridge

David Lochridge, former head of maritime operations at Oceangate, warned in 2018 that the Titan submarine was built with serious flaws and that, if it continued to be used, it risked a disaster.

Five years later, in June 2023, the submarine exploded at depth during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic, taking the lives of five people on board, including the company's founder, Stockton Rush.

A report released by the US Coast Guard this week confirms that repeated safety defects, lack of testing and poor maintenance were the main reasons for the tragedy.

According to the report, the company had ignored warnings and knowingly avoided external certification for the submarine's safety.

Lochridge, who had over 25 years of experience in submarine rescue and maritime missions, was hired by Oceangate to help build a new submarine that would take tourists to the depths where the Titanic remains lie. Initially, the project was developed in collaboration with a research laboratory at the University of Washington, but later the company decided to take on the entire construction itself, raising the first suspicions about Lochridge.

During his inspections, he noted serious problems with the submarine's hull material, which was constructed of carbon fiber, a material that had not previously been used in deep-sea submarines. The carbon layers showed visible damage, while the metal parts mounted on the ends were incorrectly machined. Lochridge also raised concerns about the observation glass, which was not designed for extreme depths.

After warning company executives about the risks, he was immediately fired. He then contacted the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which placed him under the protection of “whistleblower” status, but according to him, took no concrete action to investigate the matter. Although OSHA forwarded the concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard, the communication proved ineffective, as the email was never read, due to a delivery to an employee who had changed jobs.

Dark truths behind the Titan submarine tragedy revealed
VICTIMS

Meanwhile, Oceangate launched a legal battle against Lochridge and his wife, accusing them of breach of contract and misuse of confidential information. Under constant legal and financial pressure, the couple was forced to withdraw the lawsuit and sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Despite concerns raised in the first phase of construction, the Titan submarine conducted several test dives and then began transporting passengers on tourist expeditions to the Titanic in 2021 and 2022. Technical problems continued during testing, where a crack was discovered in the submarine's hull, but the company replaced it with a second model and resumed operations.

Five people lost their lives in the 2023 tragedy, including CEO Stockton Rush and one of the youngest passengers to ever travel to such depths.

After the accident, Lochridge testified at public hearings, again accusing authorities of a lack of response. The Coast Guard's final report supports his assessment and emphasizes that delays and a failure to coordinate between OSHA and other agencies were a missed opportunity for early intervention that could have prevented the loss of life.

Oceangate has permanently suspended activity and stated that it is cooperating with the investigation.


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