the column is from a rag, but I believe the info.
hopefully we'll hear form better news sources.
OceanGate REFUSED to put missing Titan sub through independent inspection process and also fired director in 2018 after he asked for more rigorous safety tests
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-concerns.html
OceanGate bosses fired David Lochridge, who was Director of Marine operations for the Titan project, in 2018 after it disagreed with his demand for more rigorous safety checks on the submersible, including 'testing to prove its integrity'.
The company also opted against having the craft 'classed', an industry-wide practice whereby independent inspectors ensure vessels meet accepted technical standards.
Classification involves recruiting an independent organization to ensure vessels like ships and submersibles meet industry-wide technical standards. It is a crucial way of ensuring a vessel is fit to operate.
In a blog post titled 'Why Isn't Titan Classed?', OceanGate suggested classification would take too long.
"'Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation.'"