Did OceanGate negligently handle safety concerns about the Titan submarine?
06/21/2023 •
Yes — The majority of viewpoints show public outrage and criticism towards OceanGate for ignoring safety concerns raised by the submarine expert, engaging in risky experimental approaches, and firing whistleblowers who warned about potential risks. These viewpoints also point towards a pattern of negligence, disregard for safety, and poor decision-making by the company.
Stats
| 69% | 68 | |
| 12% | 12 | Hacker News |
| 12% | 12 | |
| 6% | 6 | 4Chan |
| 70% | Negative |
| 25% | Neutral |
| 6% | Positive |
| 49% | 😱 Fear |
| 45% | 😡 Anger |
| 2% | 😃 Joy |
| 2% | 😢 Sadness |
| 2% | 😯 Surprise |
| 0% | 🥰 Love |
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Story
- OceanGate, a tourist submarine company, fired a submarine expert who had warned about potential safety issues with their submarine, Titan, five years ago.
- The fired expert, David Lochridge, a British submersible pilot, had raised concerns about potential design flaws and risks associated with the submarine.
- The firing of Lochridge is seen by some as retaliation by OceanGate's CEO, which raises questions about the company's commitment to safety and its treatment of whistleblowers.
- Some people are of the opinion that the individuals hired by OceanGate lacked sufficient experience and were chosen based on diversity over submarine expertise, potentially compromising safety measures.
- OceanGate's approach, deemed experimental by peers in the industry, is seen as potentially negative for the industry, especially when coupled with the dismissal of a safety-concerned director of marine operations.
- Safety concerns raised included potential design flaws and risks related to the crushing depth of the viewing glass and hull of the submarine.
- The fired expert also had concerns about the experimental carbon fiber design of the submarine and believed extensive testing was necessary.
- OceanGate's CEO, similar to Elon Musk, complained about overregulation in the industry, implying a prioritization of innovation over safety.
- OceanGate's "safety system" utilizes acoustic monitoring, a method viewed skeptically by some who question its effectiveness compared to other safety measures.
- Despite widespread criticism, there are claims that OceanGate has a history of dismissing employees who raise safety concerns, reflecting a perceived pattern of negligence and lack of accountability.
- The public outcry over OceanGate's decision has raised concerns about the legal and regulatory implications, with some seeing it as unethical, irresponsible, and potentially leading to serious consequences.
- There are documented instances where OceanGate's experimental approach has led to negative outcomes, as critics accuse the company of having a non-existent engineering culture, ignoring test results, and lacking contingency plans.