During the extensive operation to recover the OceanGate submersible, which went missing with five people near the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean, noises were detected on Tuesday.
Reports have now surfaced revealing that the company had received warnings about potential mission problems over several years.
The U.S. Coast Guard took to Twitter to inform that Canadian military surveillance had picked up underwater noises within the search area.
In response, a robot was deployed to investigate the source of the noises; however, no significant findings were made.
This recent development follows an article published by the New York Times on Tuesday, highlighting the concerns expressed to OceanGate regarding its Titanic mission.
In a letter addressed to OceanGate in 2018, more than three dozen experts, including industry leaders and oceanographers, expressed their apprehension, stating, “Our concern is that the current experimental approach adopted by OceanGate could lead to adverse outcomes, ranging from minor incidents to catastrophic events, with severe consequences for the entire industry.”
OceanGate CEO, Stockton Rush, has defended the submersible, noting that it is unregulated and not affiliated with any specific country.
In a 2019 interview with Smithsonian magazine, Rush asserted, “The commercial sub-industry hasn’t experienced any injuries in over 35 years. It’s remarkably safe because of the regulations in place.
Rush was on board his company’s Titan submarine when it suffered a catastrophic failure after going off the radar on Sunday.
The submarine was en route to the wreckage site of HMS Titanic, located approximately 370 miles east of the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
During a press conference on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed that the Titan’s pressure chamber and other debris had been discovered.
The wreckage was located around 1600 feet from the bow of the Titanic on the seabed and was discovered by a remote-operated vehicle (ROV).
OceanGate, a private company that offers undersea expeditions costing as much as $250,000 per seat, released a statement that the five passengers on board the submarine are now confirmed to be deceased.
