Whistleblower Fired in 2018 for Exposing Terrifying Safety Concerns at OceanGate

A former employee of OceanGate Expeditions has come forward with allegations that the company fired him after he raised safety concerns about its submersible, the Titan.

Lucas Bennett
Photo by Ocean Gate / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Highlights
  • David Lochridge, a former employee of OceanGate Expeditions, has alleged that he was fired after raising safety concerns about the company's submersible, the Titan.
  • Lochridge raised concerns about the submersible's hull, which he believed was not strong enough to withstand the pressures at the depth of the Titanic wreck. He also said that he was concerned about the use of flammable materials in the submersible.
  • OceanGate has denied Lochridge's allegations, saying that he was fired for "performance-related reasons." The company has also said that the Titan is safe and that it has passed all necessary safety tests.

An ex-worker of OceanGate Expeditions has come out with charges that the firm sacked him after he voiced worries about the safety of the Titan, the company’s submersible.

David Lochridge, who was the director of marine operations at OceanGate, has said that he voiced his worries over the hull of the submersible, which he thought to be too weak to handle the forces that are present at the bottom of the Titanic disaster. In addition to that, he expressed his worries concerning the use of combustible components inside the submersible.

According to Lochridge, he voiced his concerns to the management of OceanGate in January 2018, but he was told that his issues would not be handled. According to him, he was terminated from his position at the corporation in June 2018.

The charges made by Lochridge have been refuted by OceanGate, which asserts that the former employee was terminated for “performance-related reasons.” Additionally, the business has said that the Titan is risk-free and has been shown to be successful in all mandatory safety evaluations.

Concerns concerning Titan’s security have been brought up as a result of the claims made by Lochridge. In July of 2023, the submersible is going to conduct its first dive to the location of the wreckage of the Titanic.

It is essential to keep in mind that Lochridge’s claims have not been examined by a third party for accuracy. Nevertheless, the claims are significant, and more research needs to be conducted.

The Titan’s well-being is of the utmost significance in our endeavor. Two individuals are being transported in the submersible as it makes its way to an isolated and potentially hazardous area. In the event that the submersible had a malfunction, the repercussions may be disastrous.

It is essential for OceanGate to take Lochridge’s accusations seriously and to conduct a comprehensive investigation into them. Before beginning its dive to the location of the Titanic disaster, the corporation needs also to take precautions to verify that the Titan is in a secure condition.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/20/a-whistleblower-raised-safety-concerns-about-oceangates-submersible-in-2018-then-he-was-fired/

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Lucas Bennett is a tech journalist on a mission to decode the digital frontier. With a background in computer science and a passion for cutting-edge technologies, Lucas brings a unique blend of technical expertise and journalistic flair to his work. From artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to blockchain and quantum computing, Lucas's articles provide invaluable insights into the fast-paced world of technology.