What to know before watching Netflix’s ‘Titan: The OceanGate Disaster’ documentary-OxBig News Network

This June 2023 United States Coast Guard still frame from video provided by Pelagic Research Services, shows remains of the Titan submersible, center, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean
| Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Video courtesy Pelagic Research Services via AP

June 18 this year will mark the second anniversary of the Titan disaster, an event that killed all five on board a craft made for deep sea exploration. Titan, an experimental submersible, was designed to take passengers almost to the ocean floor for a $250,000-per-person tour to see the wreckage of the Titanic ship.

Those killed in the incident were Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush, billionaire Hamish Harding, businessman Shahzada Dawood, his university-going son Suleman Dawood, and Titanic researcher Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Their disappearance and deaths, caused by an implosion, spellbound people all over the globe.

Now, a documentary titled ‘Titan: The OceanGate Disaster’ is set to be released on Netflix on June 11. Directed by Mark Monroe, the documentary presents a new perspective on the disaster, highlighting the expedition’s end as resulting from a deadly combination of professional negligence, a disregard for safety regulations over the years, and the CEO’s pursuit of fame.

The documentary’s minute-long trailer reveals that Titan’s failure was a foregone conclusion from the outset. It critiques the psychology and personality of company CEO Stockton Rush, who was piloting the craft at the time of the implosion.

New evidence

About the implosion, experts were divided. Some claimed that those inside the submersible knew of the fatal malfunction and spent their last seconds in terror, while others noted that they all died even before realising that anything was wrong.

Why isn’t there a consensus? Because of Titan’s unorthodox design, which lacked crucial reporting or logging tools that more regulated companies generally include in their crafts; Titan did not even have a detectable beacon, per a journalist.

The documentary is anticipated to reveal more details about the minutes preceding the implosion, the findings of the subsequent investigation, and more data on the exact cause of the implosion. It should also provide valuable insights that both daredevil entrepreneurs and adventurers should take away.

Experimental design

In a bid to popularise Titanic tourism, Titan’s company Oceangate claimed on its (now defunct) website that it could support “human exploration of the deep ocean to depths of 4000 meters.” However, Oceangate was far from being a recognised or regulated travel company. Its experimental Titan submersible used “off-the-shelf” components to make replacing the parts easier and cheaper. Additionally, specific components of its experimental design may not have been truly certified to withstand 4,000m depths.

Titan was made out of carbon fibre and titanium, and required external assistance to be opened. It was so small that all five passengers could only sit inside. It was piloted with the help of a modified gaming controller and guidance texts sent from the surface; Netflix’s documentary shows an interviewee claiming that Oceangate’s CEO declared that a company accountant would pilot their next mission.

Furthermore, Titan suffered wear and tear as a result of every dive, and its maintenance was not up to the mark, according to several sources. Its unconventional use of carbon fibre and titanium has also come under the scanner as NASA and Boeing distanced themselves from Oceangate, downplaying their involvement in the development of Titan.

Regulatory gaps

The company has clashed with several experts and a former employee over its safety standards. Journalists and past visitors raised concerns about Mr. Rush’s devil-may-care approach to deep sea exploration.

While testifying about the tragedy, OceanGate’s ex-operations director, David Lochridge, strongly criticised the company’s approach to science. He was sued by OceanGate before the Titan implosion. He also criticised the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly not following up on his complaint promptly, which he felt could have prevented the loss of lives.

But these incidents did not make any real waves until after the implosion on June 18, 2023.

Disdain for safety

In essence, the Titan implosion has set back years of progress with regards to deep sea exploration. Oceangate aimed to make Titanic tourism more accessible to wealthy clients by blurring the line between passengers and professional crew members. But it seems likely that post-Titan, visits to the wreckage on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean will remain restricted to experts and regulated companies.

Mr. Rush’s vexation with safety is a matter of record as he once said in a CBS interview that safety was a “pure waste.” The Netflix documentary will likely go into how this attitude shaped his work with Titan, culminating in the submersible’s final journey into darkness.