Titan sub CEO repeatedly dismissed expert's safety concerns, emails appear to show
A specialist who warned OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush was placing himself and his client in a "dangerous dynamic" has told ITV why he had such grave concerns, Amy Lewis reports
Warnings over the safety of OceanGate's Titan submersible were repeatedly dismissed by the company's CEO, emails seen by ITV News appear to show.
Leading deep sea exploration specialist Rob McCallum warned OceanGate boss Stockton Rush that he was potentially putting his clients at risk in the messages.
Mr McCallum also urged Rush to stop using the sub until it had been certified by an independent agency.
In response, Mr Rush defended his qualifications. He added that he was "tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation and new entrants from entering their small existing market".
Mr McCallum told ITV News: "Many people within the community who all, without exception, operate classed and certified vehicles, we identified that an outlier, someone who wasn't prepared to adhere to the highest possible standards, was a risk."
Mr Rush was killed on board the Titan submersible when it catastrophically imploded.
Other fatalities were British adventurer Hamish Harding, French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet as well as father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood.
The Titan set off last Sunday on a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada, but lost contact with its mothership, the Polar Prince, around one hour and 45 minutes into its descent.
US Coast Guard officials said on Thursday that the Titan imploded following a "catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber".
Safety probe launched into fatal implosion of Titan vessel
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said on Friday it would begin a probe "into the fatal occurrence involving the Canadian-flagged vessel Polar Prince and the privately operated submersible Titan".
The mothership used to carry the Titan before its voyage, has returned to its base in St John's harbour in Newfoundland.
Investigators have now begun interviewing those who were on board the ship which lost contact with the Titan submersible.
Kathy Fox, the TSB's chair, told a press conference that its investigations typically take 18 months or two years. “We obviously try to do them quicker, because we know that everybody wants answers – particularly the family, the public etc.," she said. “We need to take the time with respect to how far we will go, that remains to be seen as we gather information. So it’s still too early to tell.”
Sons of British billionaire killed aboard Titan pay tribute to 'charismatic' man who was 'full of wisdom'
The two sons of Hamish Harding, who were not named in their statement, have paid tribute to the “best father” they could have asked for. One said: “My dad was a tenacious, hardworking businessman – but most importantly he was the best father I could have ever asked for. “He inspired me more than anyone will ever know, taught me things I’ll never forget, and he meant everything to me.
“Anyone who ever met my dad will praise his humorous personality, his sheer work ethic, and his constant generosity. “My life will be a success if I’m even half the man he is. My dad is gone but I will never forget him.” Mr Harding’s second son, who was also not named in the statement issued by Action Aviation, said the business jet salesman was a 'loving father, family man and a determined and tireless businessman'. He said: “In all of these areas, he constantly sought to be the best man he could be and did nothing halfway. “Constantly full of wisdom and life advice to bestow, he made my brother and I into the people we are today. “He was an energetic and charismatic man who by the sheer weight of his personality lifted up and supported everyone around him. “His tragic loss will be mourned not only by myself and my family, but everyone who had the pleasure to meet him. “The world is so much less without his larger-than-life presence and his optimistic spirit.”
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Ross Kemp turned down OceanGate submersible trip over safety fears
British documentary-maker Ross Kemp turned down a trip to see the Titanic on an OceanGate submersible for a television show. The former EastEnders star, 58, had been keen to take part in the mission last year but it was deemed to be unsafe. An expert production company carried out checks and decided it would be too risky to let anybody board the Titan submersible to view the shipwreck on the seafloor of the North Atlantic, off the coast of Canada. Kemp’s agent, InterTalent chairman Professor Jonathan Shalit, said they pulled out of using the OceanGate craft because it was deemed to be unsafe “on every level”.
Prof Shalit said: “The production company, who are well known and renowned, looked into the sub and decided it was unsafe on every level and weren’t prepared to use it. “We were told ‘it is unsafe, we are not going’ – that was a year ago. “It is deeply sad for the families who have suffered such a terrible loss. “The lesson to be learnt is do your checks thoroughly. By good fortune for us the checks had been done thoroughly.”
Veteran explorer Josh Gates, who hosts Expedition Unknown on Discovery+, also revealed he turned down the chance to film on the doomed Titan submersible. He tweeted that he had rejected the opportunity to film in 2021 because the vessel “did not perform well” during a test dive.