The Coast Guard Report on the OceanGate Titan Implosion is Out

[Lord Avalon]

Excerpt from Ars Technica:

In a 300-plus page final report released today, the US Coast Guard analyzed the 2023 Titan sub implosion from every conceivable angle and came to a clear conclusion: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush was a dangerous and deeply unpleasant boss.

His company used "intimidation tactics" to sidestep regulatory scrutiny, it was a "toxic" workplace, and its safety culture was "critically flawed." The Titan itself was "undocumented, unregistered, non-certificated, [and] unclassed." As for Rush, he managed to "completely ignore vital inspections, data analyses, and preventative maintenance procedures." The result was a "catastrophic event" that occurred when 4,930 pounds per square inch of water pressure cracked the sub open and crushed its five occupants during a dive to the Titanic wreckage site.

Had Rush somehow survived, the report says, he would have been referred for prosecution.

...

Rush was under financial pressure, which appears to explain some of these decisions and may have ultimately led to his death. OceanGate decided to save money, for example, by storing the Titan sub outdoors over the Canadian winter, "exposing the hull to extreme temperature fluctuations [that] compromised the Titan’s hull integrity."

Holy crap, I didn't know they stored Titan outdoors in the frakkin' winter. Way to weaken the carbon fiber laminate, not to mention each dive created more microfractures. Breaking the rules is one thing, trying to break the laws of physics another.

[Green1]

I happen to know one of the guys personally (but not good friend.. just seen at events) that was on the board of the investigation.

One of the firms is in my city. Don't work with the dude I am not sure my craziness would not mesh with his and he is married to his drafter.

i saw some of the initial stuff a good while back.

I am no 4 year degree engineer, but even a fresh out of college mechanical or maritime draftsman would tell you about tolerances at depths and air pockets in solids because you half ass manufactured it is going to be disaster with that much pressure.