Mon Sep 23 22:26:16 UTC 2024: ## OceanGate Co-Founder Paints Different Picture of CEO Stockton Rush
**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – As the Coast Guard continues its investigation into the fatal implosion of the Titan submersible, a contrasting portrait of CEO Stockton Rush has emerged. Guillermo Söhnlein, co-founder of OceanGate, described Rush as driven by exploration, not profit, and recounted an incident where Rush insisted on conducting the submersible’s first crewed dive to 4,000 meters alone.
Söhnlein testified on Monday that Rush, concerned about potential risks, stated, “If anything happens, I want it to only impact me. It’s my design. I believe in it. I trust it, but I don’t want to risk anybody else and I’m gonna go by myself.”
This portrayal stands in stark contrast to previous testimony from David Lochridge, former OceanGate operations director, who painted Rush as solely profit-driven and lacking experience. Lochridge claimed Rush panicked during a 2016 dive due to his inexperience. This account was refuted by Renata Rojas, a former mission specialist, who asserted no panic occurred on that dive.
Despite the tragedy, Söhnlein expressed hope that deep-sea exploration would continue. “I can only hope that others will be inspired by the mission Stockton and I started,” he said.
The Coast Guard investigation, which is expected to conclude this week, will review testimonies from experts, crew members, and other parties. The final report will examine the submersible’s design, operation, and safety protocols.
In a statement, OceanGate expressed condolences to the families of the victims and stated their full cooperation with the ongoing investigations. “We hope that this hearing will help shed light on the cause of the tragedy,” the statement concluded.
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