Many ships that venture into the sunless depths of the sea for scientific research are robust behemoths with proven technology and proven safety.
But titaniumthe company’s lost submersible OceanGateis a technological maverick based on novel concepts that differ from standard designs. Additionally, unlike most deepwater boats, Titan is not certified by a reputable shipping group that performs such licensing work on other boats, including an OceanGate-built boat that dives to shallower depths.
“That suggests they cut back,” said Bruce H. Robison, a senior marine biologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California, who has explored the ocean depths in more than a dozen different types of submersibles.
Alfred S. McLaren, a retired Navy submariner and president emeritus of the Explorers Club of New York City, agreed. “Three people asked me if they would like to do a dive,” he said in reference to the lost submersible. “And I said, ‘Don’t do it.’ I wouldn’t do it in a million years.”
When asked to answer questions about Titan’s certification, an OceanGate spokesperson said in an email, “We are unable to provide any further information at this time.”
As a class, submersibles go down for hours, not days or months, and depend on a mother ship for support, communications, food for the crew, and bunks and appropriate toilets.
From reliable old designs to innovative newer models, all ships face the crushing pressure of the Abyss – the plane of Titanic’s resting place. three tons per square inch. They are therefore subject to stringent requirements for risk avoidance, if not full assurance of crew and equipment safety.
Private vessels – those used on superyachts, research vessels or tourist excursions – are not subject to official regulation by any governmental or intergovernmental agency. Nor do they meet the rigorous standards set for deep sea boats by the US Navy and other government agencies.
Still, the best private dive boats go through extensive testing, certification, and ratings for specific depths by organizations like Lloyd’s Register, a UK company specializing in assessing the quality of offshore equipment for the maritime industry. In the industry this is referred to as classification.
Titan – the 22 foot submersible disappeared on Sunday when diving to the Titanic – differs from most submersibles in that the passenger hull consists of two very different materials. It’s made from a mix of carbon fiber and titanium, resulting in a craft that’s significantly lighter than submersibles, which are primarily made of steel or titanium, a lightweight, high-strength metal.
The disparate materials used in the ship’s hull construction “raise structural concerns,” said Dr. McLaren, who twice went to the Titanic with submersibles. “They have different coefficients of expansion and compression, and that goes against maintaining a watertight connection.”
On its website, the owner of the submersible, OceanGate, a private company based in Everett, Washington, announces: says The ship’s light weight and its launch and recovery platform significantly reduced transportation and operating costs, making Titan “a more financially viable option for individuals interested in deep exploration.” Still, the passenger cost on the current Titanic dive was $250,000.
Due to its novel design features, titanium cannot be certified either. according to the company. OceanGate explains on its website that the boat’s unlicensed status (what the industry refers to as “unclassified” or “uncertified”) is a reflection of the vessel’s cutting-edge technology and not a sign of shortcuts or shortcomings that could jeopardize safety.
“The vast majority of marine (and aviation) accidents are due to operator error, not mechanical failure,” the company said called on his website. “Therefore, solely focusing on the classification of the ship is not enough to account for the operational risks. Maintaining a high level of operational security requires constant, dedicated effort and a focused corporate culture – two things that OceanGate takes very seriously and which are not evaluated in the classification.”
However, the company said one of its other submersibles had completed safety certification. antipodes goes 1,000 feet in depth, a tiny fraction of the depth of the Titanic, which is about two and a half miles. Like Titan, it was used for tourist diving. The certification was carried out by the American Bureau of Shippinga giant of the shipping industry based in Houston.
In an interview, Jennifer Mire, a spokeswoman for the American Bureau of Shipping, said the company has not evaluated the larger submersible. “We have no connection to Titan,” she said.
Explaining Titan’s lack of certification on its website, OceanGate said that groups like Lloyd’s Register and the American Bureau of Shipping “often have a multi-year approval cycle because of a lack of pre-existing standards, particularly in the case of many.” Innovations from OceanGate, such as carbon fiber pressure vessels and a real-time hull health monitoring system.”
dr McLaren said the company’s reasoning was unconvincing and the innovative nature of the craft made the certification even more important. Knowing it wasn’t certified, he said, was enough to make him “run in the opposite direction.”
Triton submarinesan American company that manufactures innovative submersibles with transparent hulls to give passengers a panoramic view of the abyss, cites vehicle certification as one of the company’s founding principles.
“We are proud that every submersible delivered remains in active service and is certified to its original design depth,” it said says the company’s website. “Every Triton ever completed has passed certification.”
