by Mike Latham, ©2023
(Jun. 25, 2023) — Having spent the better part of 30 years in the employ of General Dynamics’ Electric Boat (EB) Division, I was surprised to see the interior photos of Titan’s cylindrically-shaped hull. Most DSVs (Alvin, Star I, Star II, Aluminaut, Autec I & Autec II) were all designed and constructed by EB. The only exception I’m aware of is TRIESTE. All DSVs have spherically-shaped pressure hulls; the exception is Aluminaut, which used forged T6061, 6–7-inch-thick hull walls for an oval hull configuration.
There has been nary a word to date regarding OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush’s (lack of) involvement with the U.S. Navy, Electric Boat, or Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Titan’s hull design and certification. Apparently, this was Titan’s fifth mission, with no details yet on the previous four as to depths achieved, problems identified, etc. Preliminary feedback suggests Rush was jettisoning ballast to achieve some positive buoyancy, perhaps indicating hull issues long before reaching the Titanic. Once the carbon fiber started to fail, it was just a matter of fractional-seconds before implosion.
Being adventurous is commendable; not fully understanding the danger of 6,000 psi is a fool’s mission.