Titanic sub trips were an oil & gas industry proving ground

[Mr Gus]

Only realised upon reading this late last night, which whilst the tragedy was whilst there was nothing but speculation of a slow asphyxiation in a posibly partially flooded 4c cabin, upon understanding the fella in charge of the subs design was aiming for these dives to showcase safety & reliability for use in the oil & gas industry, ..now i'm kind of torn, it is likely this design will be junked hopefully meaning another shortcut to getting off the FF merry-go- round.

(Cannot find the piece, no time, but was in the guardian in the closing hours of the sub search)

I guess this is a classic example of the sub tech being around since the 1990's cameron's titanic etc, your mind bends it's view based on "always there" perspective.

Any sub designs in those fields sharing design similarities that will now come to light, or was it "unique" ?

[Joeboy]

Only realised upon reading this late last night, which whilst the tragedy was whilst there was nothing but speculation of a slow asphyxiation in a posibly partially flooded 4c cabin, upon understanding the fella in charge of the subs design was aiming for these dives to showcase safety & reliability for use in the oil & gas industry, ..now i'm kind of torn, it is likely this design will be junked hopefully meaning another shortcut to getting off the FF merry-go- round.

(Cannot find the piece, no time, but was in the guardian in the closing hours of the sub search)

I guess this is a classic example of the sub tech being around since the 1990's cameron's titanic etc, your mind bends it's view based on "always there" perspective.

Any sub designs in those fields sharing design similarities that will now come to light, or was it "unique" ?

Unique and a mistake. No 3rd party peer review/approval/audit/certification/ post dive recertification and the owner at the controls. Stinks of hubris & ego.

I would bet that the drive to bring in fees to keep the company going played a large part in this.

Then I read this, this morning.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ti ... -rcna90582

[nowty]

Last night SWMBO was questioning why on earth was the 19 year old on it. I thought it was a bit off for his farther to take him on something so dodgy even if he wanted to go.

Then I see this, it seemed he was not that keen to go.
https://news.sky.com/story/titan-submer ... t-12908074

He probably would have preferred going to Glastonbury.

[Coriolis]

https://www.insider.com/oceangate-ceo-s ... ing-2023-6

Clearly he never stopped to properly think about why the oil and gas industry uses ROVs not instead of manned submersibles. Size, manoeuvrability, time on station and operating depths.

The excuse about nobody looking at the cost because they were seen as government/academic exercises doesn't wash when you look at just how much the subsea equipment the O&G created in the pursuit of black gold.

[Paul_F]

Any sub designs in those fields sharing design similarities that will now come to light, or was it "unique" ?

Very nearly unique - everybody else in the industry seems to have been telling him that he was being a cowboy for some considerable time.

[Joeboy]

Any sub designs in those fields sharing design similarities that will now come to light, or was it "unique" ?

Very nearly unique - everybody else in the industry seems to have been telling him that he was being a cowboy for some considerable time.

It was certainly unique in that it used a 1400mtr rated porthole for 3800mtr WD. This is why a 3rd party independent non partisan inspection regime is critical. We all need someone to reign us in now and then and play overseer even if we ourselves are paying for that to happen. It's gutwrenchingly .

[Marcus]

Any sub designs in those fields sharing design similarities that will now come to light, or was it "unique" ?

Very nearly unique - everybody else in the industry seems to have been telling him that he was being a cowboy for some considerable time.

It was certainly unique in that it used a 1400mtr rated porthole for 3800mtr WD. This is why a 3rd party independent non partisan inspection regime is critical. We all need someone to reign us in now and then and play overseer even if we ourselves are paying for that to happen. It's gutwrenchingly .

Yes it does seem a little mad to knowingly exceed the manufacturers rating by such a margin - especially if it's being used for multiple trips. But there expert opinion seems to be focussed on the carbon fibe tube section as the most likely to failue - and the principal reason it would have failed an independent certification. Anyone else going to that depth used a titanium sphere i believe.

I'm not a materials expert but my understanding is that carbon fibre is great under tension, but under compression it's the properties of the medium in which they're set that becomes the limiting factor. Although i guess it depends on how the fibres have been laid.

[Mr Gus]

It's a shame I lost contact with the guys at Lola (cars) or I'd have had a few pints & a natter & learn something, the lola transporters for comp used to be parked up in our village outside the pub for days sometimes, ..value of that kit & cars, I shudder to think! (obviously they were lay up masters, ...& very chatty)

[nowty]

There was a report on the TV news earlier saying they refused to do destructive testing on the pressure vessel and instead relied on strain gauges with the comment that as soon as the strain gauges move its too late.

[Joeboy]

My thoughts are with the Asian Father & sons surviving . A whole life of hell and guilt ahead for them.

There is an entire conversation to be had regarding having enough money to independently commission projects and begin operating in grey areas in comparison say to operating within the existing structure of the subsea oil & gas industry.

We knew the dangers of hubris & ego and very largely the checks and balances were in place to control them. Everyone goes home intact.

I'll be honest, I'd bitchslap the slush that is Stockton Rush for his colossal arrogance and ego over riding that most basic of sea rules. Protect others.