Former Oceangate Science Director Reveals Pre-Tour Issues with Submarine Titan

Dr. Stephen Ross, former scientific director of OceanGate, testifies about problems with the submarine Titan before its fatal dive to the Titanic wreck.

Incident on Dive 87

On June 12, 2023, during the 87th dive of Mission 4, a problem occurred, causing the submarine to tilt 45 degrees with the bow pointing upwards. The craft’s pressure tank, which controls buoyancy, malfunctioned, resulting in a loss of control.

All five passengers on board, including Dr. Ross, were rolled to the back of the ship. The submarine was unable to resurface for at least an hour, requiring assistance from a support team.

Previous Incidents

Dr. Ross also discussed two incidents during the Titan’s dives in 2022. On its 80th dive, a loud noise was heard as the craft returned to the surface, possibly caused by the movement of the ship’s steel frame resisting pressure.

During the 81st dive, a problem with the propeller controlling one of the thrusters caused it to move in the opposite direction of the buttons, requiring the driver to manually control the submarine.

Pre-Mission 4 Incident

Before the start of Mission 4 in 2023, Dr. Ross heard that the submarine had hit an obstacle while being towed at night. The incident was attributed to possibly abandoned fishing gear, but no conclusion was drawn about potential damage.

Fatal Dive

The submarine Titan exploded and crashed on June 18, 2023, while carrying five passengers on a dive to the Titanic wreck in the Atlantic Ocean. The cause of the explosion is believed to be the failure of the ship’s weight hull to withstand the pressure under the ocean.

The five victims included Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman, former British pilot Hamish Harding, former French Navy head Paul-Henri Nargolet, and Stockton Rush, founder and CEO of Oceangate.