I was ignored when I pointed out key design flaws in doomed Titanic sub – but there was an even more alarming problem | The Sun
A DEEP sea explorer who claims Titan sub boss Stockton Rush ignored his safety fears has told how he was most alarmed by the "cavalier attitude" to the voyage.
Rob McCallum says he flagged a series of key design flaws to the OceanGate CEO after becoming concerned with his offhand approach.
The exploration expert, from New Zealand, believes there was a complete disregard for danger while Rush fostered a culture of silence in his company to spearhead the doomed voyage.
Rob explained he had spent time with the OceanGate boss and his team while the construction of the Titan submersible was underway.
His up close and personal assessment of the vessel instantly set alarm bells ringing, as he quickly identified three major problems.
The submersible operations expert, who has led multiple expeditions to the Titanic wreckage and German battleship Bismarck, begged Rush to get a safety certificate for the sub before giving rides to paying customers – but was ignored.
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He has now revealed the treacherous trio of issues that he pointed out – which he claims were completely disregarded.
Speaking to RNZ on Monday, Rob said: "The first, using material which is not appropriate for deep water vessels.
"They were using carbon fibre, which is unique – in the sense that no one would ever use it.
"It’s okay in the aviation industry, but it's not good for high-pressure situations."
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The pressure where the debris of the Titan was discovered is around 6,000 PSI – compared to 14.7 at sea level.
The Titan was a simple carbon fibre tube with titanium end caps holding it together and with no escape pod.
Stockton Rush, Brit billionaire Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman tragically died on the dive to the Titanic wreck.
A spokesman for the US Coast Guard said debris found in the search for the missing sub was "consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber".
As well as structural concerns, Rob explained there was a "cavalier attitude" to sourcing hardware and gadgets for the Titan.
The cramped 22ft submersible had only one porthole at the front and no GPS system, leaving those onboard reliant on the team above the surface on the Canadian research vessel the Polar Prince.
The Titan was steered by a budget Xbox-style controller, which Rush previously boasted made it possible for "anybody to drive the sub."
This was a huge red flag for Rob, who feared the team were cutting corners while prioritising the success of the voyage over safety.
He added: "You will have seen in the media reports of subs' primary interface was a … game controller."
Experts said one tiny flaw in the 21ft vessel could have led to disaster.
The attitude was one of anyone that raises a safety concern will not only be silenced but they will be ex-communicated to that effect.
But Rob said the "most alarming" aspect was the culture and attitude he observed during daily operations ahead of the fateful trip.
He continued: "In the maritime industry, safety is the central theme of our daily operations, it’s all sea fare not just those that go beneath the waves.
"The attitude was one of anyone that raises a safety concern will not only be silenced but they will be ex-communicated to that effect."
He made reference to the sacking of former Director of Marine Operations for the Titan project, David Lochridge, who was fired after he demanded more rigorous safety checks on the submersible.
Rob sighed: "Five people are at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
"That's the price, an incredibly tough price, to pay for ignoring well-established engineering principles and attempting to challenge the laws of physics."
He said comparing the Titan to the rest of the fleet was like comparing a homebuilt aircraft with a Boeing airliner.
"The difference in an engineering standard is profound," Rob added.
The explorer has already revealed the tense email exchange he shared with Rush voicing his worries about the Titan.
He warned the OceanGate founder that he was "placing himself and his clients in a dangerous dynamic" in extremely hostile conditions.
TITANIC CURSE
"In your race to Titanic you are mirroring that famous catch cry: 'She is unsinkable'," Rob chillingly wrote.
But he said that Rush "fancied himself as somewhat of a maverick entrepreneur" and ignored the fundamental rules of deep sea missions.
Rob told the BBC: "He liked to think outside the box, didn't like to be penned in by rules.
"But there are rules – and then there are sound engineering principles and the laws of physics.
"If you steer away from sound engineering principles, which are all based on hard won experience, there is a price to pay, and it's a terrible price.
"So it should never be allowed to happen again. It shouldn't have been allowed to happen this time."
Rush previously said he had "broken some rules" to make the Titan sub in the name of "innovation."
A tycoon who turned down tickets on the doomed Titan sub revealed how the OceanGate chief bragged it was "safer than crossing the street".
Titan vanished less than two hours into its descent to the Titanic wreckage on June 18.
Search crews had been desperately looking for the vessel in the Atlantic after it lost communication with just 96 hours of life support.
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The sub failed to resurface – with its final "ping" to mothership Polar Prince placing the vessel directly above the ruins.
The remains of the Titan – including a landing frame and the tail cone – must now be raised 3,800m from the sea floor to uncover how the sub met its violent end.
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