When David Lochridge joined Oceangate as Director of Marine Operations, he was thrilled to dive into the groundbreaking Titan submersible project aimed at exploring the Titanic wreck. However, his excitement soon turned into alarm as he discovered numerous safety issues and voiced his concerns, only to be dismissed and fired in 2018.
After the Titan tragically imploded during a dive in June 2023, killing all five passengers including his former boss, Lochridge spoke out, stating, "People were sold a lie." A US Coast Guard report confirmed the safety failures that led to this disaster, criticizing deficiencies in the submersible’s design and construction. Lochridge's insistence on independent safety assessments was ignored as the project progressed without proper oversight.
Despite facing legal battles and retaliation after flagging issues to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Lochridge remains adamant that the tragedy could have been prevented if his concerns had been taken seriously. His experience highlights the need for better safety practices and communication in deep-sea exploration and governmental oversight. As toxic oversight came to light, experts note a missed opportunity for intervention that could have saved lives.
