When the news broke that the OceanGate submersible Titan was missing on June 18, the world watched and hoped for its safe return. Unfortunately, it was discovered the following Thursday that the vessel had imploded, killing all who were aboard. Since then, new details about the reckless nature of the company behind Titan have emerged.
An article published on July 1 in The New Yorker reported that CEO Stockton Rush hired interns from Washington State University to design the electrical system on the Titan. This decision may have been part of what cost him his life as he was one of those who perished on the submersible. It is a tragic situation all around.
Mark Walsh and Nick Nelson first caught the attention of Tony Nissen, OceanGate’s director of engineering, on a tour of the company’s facilities. Tony explained some of the challenges the company was facing and the students offered solutions. Tony hired them on the spot.
“The whole electrical system — that was our design, we implemented it and it works,” Mark stated in 2018. “We are on the precipice of making history and all of our systems are going down to the Titanic. It is an awesome feeling!”
David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former director of marine operations and chief pilot, disagreed with Mark calling the Titan “a lemon.”
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Mark graduated in 2017 and accepted a job as OceanGate’s electrical engineering lead. “I like that we have a close relationship with WSU Everett because the interns have been so great,” he went on to say. “They’ve been taught right at WSU Everett, so this summer we’re going to be hiring more.”
