Mon Sep 23 20:11:50 UTC 2024: ## OceanGate Co-Founder Defends Company’s Vision Amidst Titanic Submersible Implosion Investigation
**WASHINGTON, D.C. -** The co-founder of OceanGate, the company behind the experimental submersible that imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreckage, has defended the company’s vision despite the fatal incident. Guillermo Sohnlein, who co-founded OceanGate with Stockton Rush, told the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday that the company aimed to create a fleet of submersibles capable of exploring the deep ocean.
Sohnlein, who left the company before the Titan disaster in June 2023, stated that OceanGate’s goal was to “give humanity greater access to the ocean, specifically the deep ocean.” He envisioned a fleet of four or five submersibles capable of reaching depths of 6,500 yards, carrying five people each.
The Coast Guard is conducting a high-level investigation into the cause of the implosion, which claimed the lives of five people, including Rush. Testimonies have focused on the company’s practices, with former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge claiming he clashed with Rush and felt the company prioritized profit over scientific endeavors.
Despite these concerns, Sohnlein defended the company’s efforts, arguing that OceanGate was driven by a desire to explore the ocean’s depths. The investigation continues this week, with further testimonies from OceanGate engineers and experts from the American Bureau of Shipping.
The tragedy has sparked a global debate about the safety of private undersea exploration. The Coast Guard has highlighted that the Titan submersible was not independently reviewed, a standard practice for such vehicles. OceanGate has since suspended operations and is cooperating with the investigations.
The Coast Guard recently released images of the Titan wreckage, which sits at a depth of more than 12,000 feet on the ocean floor.
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