[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

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.'"

The BBC is reporting the same thing now:

A submarine expert who worked for Oceangate – the company that operates the missing submersible – warned of potential safety problems in 2018, according to US court documents.

David Lochridge moved from Scotland to Washington state to work for the firm. In a BBC interview in 2017 he enthused about the mission and said it was "destined for the sea".

But less than a year later he warned his bosses that flaws in the Titan's carbon hull might go undetected without more stringent testing, and urged the company to have an outside agency certify the vessel.

He said his verbal warnings were ignored until he wrote a report and was called into a meeting with several officials - including OceanGate chief executive Stockton Rush, who is aboard the missing submersable.

Oceangate responded by firing Lochridge. The company sued him for revealing confidential information, and the submarine expert countersued for unfair dismissal. The lawsuit was later settled. Through his lawyer, Lochridge declined to comment today.

Court documents also state that Lochridge learned that the manufacturers of the Titan’s forward viewport only certified it to a depth of 1,300 metres. The Titanic wreck lies 3,800 metres below the ocean surface.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-65953941