'No experience!' Titan Sub whistleblower slams OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush

Summary

The transcript details concerns raised by an experienced marine operations director regarding the safety and construction of a submersible named Titan. Despite the company's lack of experience in building submersibles since 2009, there was a rush to complete the project, leading to cost-cutting measures and poor engineering decisions. The director, along with other experienced pilots, voiced their concerns about the sub's safety, which were dismissed by the company's management. The director's inspection report, highlighting significant safety risks, was ignored, and the submersible was still pushed into trials, raising questions about the company's prioritization of profit over safety.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ Stockton and the team had no experience in building submersibles.
• ⚠️ The speaker had no confidence in the Titan's construction and raised safety concerns multiple times.
• 💰 The company's focus was on cutting costs and rushing to make a profit from Titanic expeditions.
• 🔧 Many components used in the Titan's construction were faulty or had anomalies, according to the speaker.
• 📢 The speaker and other experienced submersible operators voiced their concerns but were dismissed by management.
• ❌ The company ignored safety concerns in favor of financial gain and speed, a major red flag for the speaker.
• 📝 The speaker submitted a formal report in January 2018, warning of safety risks and calling for corrective actions.
• 🛑 The speaker recommended that the Titan should not be used in manned trials until all safety issues were resolved.
• 👨‍💼 The management's refusal to listen to safety concerns created tension between the speaker and the rest of the team.
• ⚙️ The speaker conducted a detailed inspection of the Titan's components, finding major deficiencies, but his concerns were not adequately addressed.

Q & A

What was the primary concern expressed by the Director of Marine Operations regarding the submersible?

The Director of Marine Operations expressed a lack of confidence in the safety and quality of the submersible, citing cost-cutting measures, bad engineering decisions, and a rush to complete the project for profit.

How did the company's inexperience in building submersibles affect the situation?

The company's inexperience led to a lack of confidence in the submersible's ability to operate safely. The Director of Marine Operations noted that there was no experience across the board within the organization, which raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the submersible.

What was the Director of Marine Operations' responsibility towards the safety of the submersible?

The Director's responsibility was to ensure the safety of the passengers and himself, having 100% confidence in the submersible's ability to maneuver, dive, and surface safely without any component failures or issues.

Why were the concerns of experienced submersible pilots and operators dismissed?

The dismissal of safety concerns was attributed to a desire to reach the Titanic quickly to start making profits, leading to cost-cutting measures and rushed engineering decisions.

What was the role of the Director of Marine Operations during the construction of the Titan?

Initially, the Director of Marine Operations was not part of the review process for incoming components. However, he was asked to inspect the Titan before it was handed over from engineering to operations.

What was the significance of the document labeled 'exhibit 098'?

Exhibit 098 was an inspection report created by the Director of Marine Operations, detailing significant safety concerns and deficiencies in the submersible's components. It was intended to serve as an official record of issues that needed to be addressed.

Why did the Director of Marine Operations feel the need to create a formal report?

The Director felt compelled to create a formal report because verbal communications of key safety issues had been dismissed on several occasions, and he wanted to ensure there was an official record for the sake of safety.

What was the Director's recommendation regarding the use of the Titan before safety issues were addressed?

The Director recommended that the Titan should not be manned during any upcoming trials until suitable corrective actions were in place and closed out.

What was the difference between an inspection and a Quality Inspection according to the Director?

An inspection, as described by the Director, involves taking detailed notes, providing recommendations, and expressing dissatisfaction with any aspect of the submersible. A Quality Inspection is a more formal process that requires a record to be kept and is typically done before a project is handed over.

What was the timeline for the Director's involvement in the inspection of the Titan?

The Director had been making notes and verbally expressing concerns throughout the construction process. The formal inspection report was prepared in January 2018, prior to the submersible being handed over from the engineering team to the operations department.