An OceanGate official is set to testify in front of the Coast Guard regarding the implosion of an experimental submersible en route to the Titanic wreckage. The former director of administration, Amber Bay, is a key witness in the ongoing investigation.
The public hearing, initiated by the Coast Guard, aims to uncover the cause of the implosion that resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals, including OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush. Testimonies have shed light on the company's troubled nature, with claims of a profit-driven focus rather than a scientific mission.
Despite the disaster, there are hopes that the incident will spark renewed interest in deep-sea exploration. Businessman Guillermo Sohnlein, a co-founder who left the company before the tragedy, emphasized the importance of continuing deep ocean exploration.
Previous witnesses have highlighted internal conflicts within OceanGate, suggesting a rush to deploy the submersible without adequate review. The company's unconventional design and lack of independent evaluation have raised concerns within the undersea exploration community.
Following the implosion, OceanGate suspended its operations, leaving no full-time employees. The ongoing hearing is expected to feature additional witnesses closely associated with the company.
During the final dive of the submersible, communication was lost, leading to a frantic search operation. The wreckage of the submersible was eventually located near the Titanic site, with no survivors reported.
OceanGate has been cooperating with both Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since the incident. The submersible, named Titan, had been conducting voyages to the Titanic wreckage site since 2021.
