Was unsafe structure known for years?: Titan diver heard creaking in hull in 2019

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

The tragic accident involving the submarine Titan killed five people. Now authorities are looking for answers. The big question is: how could this tragedy have happened?

It is unclear why the boat’s hull gave way and an implosion could occur within fractions of a second. Countless people have been questioned about this in recent days, including the crew of the mothership.

As reported by “Bild,” diving pioneer Karl Stanley could also help shed light on the darkness. Stanley was aboard the Titan for a dive in 2019 – and had a hair-raising experience.

Called for caution

As the newspaper writes, referring to an e-mail from Stanley to Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush († 61), he noticed a kind of croaking in the hull during the dive. “What we heard sounded to me like a fault/defect in an area that is under tremendous pressure and being crushed/damaged,” the email reads.

The sound was so loud that everything indicated “there is a part of the hull that is collapsing or crumbling”.

According to the “Bild,” Stanley also warned of caution. Rush shouldn’t be impressed by the fact that (mostly very wealthy) clients wanted to dive to the Titanic. “Would you consider taking dozens of other people to the Titanic before you really know where these sounds are coming from?” the diving pioneer wrote.

Rush responded with a straight answer

As is now known, carbon fiber was also used in the Titan’s structure. Submarines that dive this deep are usually made of a spherical titanium structure. This is elastic and shrinks to adapt to the enormous pressure – an ability that carbon fiber does not have.

Perhaps most shockingly, Ocean Gate’s CEO was aware of this danger. In a video message, Rush said: “I want to be remembered as an inventor. I broke some rules to do this. I broke them with logic and good engineering. There is a rule that you don’t use carbon fiber and titanium together – and I have I done.”

One thing is clear: Rush responded to diving pioneer Stanley’s concerns with a clear answer. “I made it clear after our dive that I will not take any employees, customers or media representatives on the submarine until I am satisfied that the hull is safe!” He would rather bankrupt his company than jeopardize the safety of his passengers, Rush wrote.

Exact change unclear

It’s unclear what exactly changed after the email exchange. However, Ocean Gate still seems to be aware of the danger.

That is probably why all passengers had to sign a waiver. According to CBS, the Titan was “an experimental submarine that has not been approved or certified by any regulatory agency and may result in bodily harm, disability, emotional trauma or death.” (zis)

Source: Blick