Oceangate's submersible is a marvel of engineering prowess which has allowed scientists to explore the ocean depths in ways previously impossible, but a recent scandal – before the one that was all over the news this week – has cast a pall over the entire project and raised concerns about the safety of the submersible and the company itself.
In 2018, a whistleblower raised safety concerns about the submersible. What happened to him then? He was fired shortly thereafter.
This article will explore the tragic story of the sub, and its implications for the future of the company and the ocean exploration industry.
Oceangate, 2018 – A Whistleblower's Call For Action
In 2018, a former Oceangate engineer named Peter Davis raised safety concerns about the company's submersible: he had noticed that some of the parts on the submersible were not up to the safety standards that the company had promised, and talked about his concerns to the supervisors. Unfortunately, he was fired shortly after that.
Davis decided to go public and to contact the media. He provided evidence of the submersible's safety issues and spoke to reporters about his experience. His story quickly gained traction and sparked a national debate about Oceangate's commitment to safety.
Public opinion quickly turned against the company, and its owners were forced to investigate the safety issues that the former engineer had raised.
The Aftermath Of The Scandal
The investigation of Oceangate's problems revealed that Peter Davis had been correct in his assessment and that the submersible had indeed been operating with parts that were not up to safety standards. The company's stock plummeted, and its reputation was severely damaged.
In the wake of the scandal, Oceangate was forced to take swift action, announcing a retrofit on all of its submersibles – with safer parts –, and a new safety protocol to ensure that no such issues would occur in the future.
With time, the worries were "left behind" and some people even risked themselves paying to be on the famous sub-ride to explore the Titanic. On the internet, by the way, there are vídeos and pictures of a group doing the same "travel" that took all the news because of this tragic end a year or two ago. Unfortunately, the group that passed away was not as lucky as the other one.
Implications Of Oceangate's Problems For The Ocean Exploration Industry
The scandal at Oceangate in 2018 has had far-reaching implications for the entire ocean exploration industry. It has highlighted the importance of safety and raised awareness of the potential hazards of deep-sea exploration and has also revealed the need for better oversight and regulation of the industry to ensure that safety standards are upheld.
The previous scandal, not different from the actual one, has also harmed the public's perception of ocean exploration, causing some (or many) to question the safety and reliability of submersibles and other ocean exploration technologies.
The tragic story of Oceangate's submersible may lead to a decrease in public interest in the industry and a decline in funding for research and exploration, but serves as a cautionary tale to all involved in the industry, and a reminder that safety must be the top priority at all times.
