The co-founder of OceanGate Expeditions has defended the company's late CEO Stockton Rush's commitment to safety after criticism emerged over the fact that the Titan's safety issues were first raised in 2018. OceanGate has not addressed queries by industry experts about its decision to forgo certification from industry third parties. Guillermo Söhnlein, who co-founded OceanGate with Stockton Rush in 2009, left the company in 2013, retaining a minority stake. He was very keenly aware of the risks of operating in the deep ocean environment, and he was very committed to safety," Söhnlein told Reuters. Questions about Titan's safety were raised in 2018 during a symposium of submersible industry experts and in a lawsuit by OceanGate's former head of marine operations, which was settled later that year.

Source: News 24 June 23, 2023 20:30 UTC