OceanGate’s former chief scientist related a previous sudden and frightening incident involving the Titan submersible while testifying at U.S. Coast Guard hearings in South Carolina on Thursday.
The hearings are part of the investigation into the implosion of the Titan, and resulting deaths of five people, off Newfoundland last June.
Dr. Steven Ross said another incident involving the Titan led to an aborted dive off the Scotian Shelf in 2022.
Ross, a research professor with the University of North Carolina, was hired as chief scientist for the Titanic survey expedition.
He was one of five people on board the Titan when, in choppy seas, the dive was aborted.
Ross said as Titan came back to the surface there was a malfunction, leaving the platform and the Titan on a 45-degree angle, shifting upside down. That, says Ross, left all five passengers in extremely uncomfortable positions.
“There’s nothing to hold onto,” he testified. “It’s a fairly smooth tube. The pilot (OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush) crashed into the rear bulkhead, the rest of the passengers tumbled about. I ended up standing on the rear bulkhead, one passenger was hanging upside down, and the other two managed to wedge themselves into the bow end cap.”
No one was hurt, but the passengers remained in limbo for about an hour as the Titan banged against the platform in choppy seas while the surface team tried to resolve “multiple issues.”
U.S. Coast Guard Lieut. Jason Neubauer questioned Ross on the incident.
“Obviously you weren’t able to see outside of the submersible to the platform, but did it feel as if it was slamming against the platform?”
“That was my understanding, yes,” Ross replied, adding he couldn’t say if a post-dive inspection of the hull was carried out.
The hearings continue today in Charleston, South Carolina.