Titanic Director James Cameron Accuses OceanGate of Cutting Corners

Hollywood film director James Cameron, known for directing the movie Titanic, expressed concerns about the submersible’s construction, suggesting that the team had “cut corners” and the parent company, OceanGate, didn’t seek certification due to an anticipated failure.

Cameron, who completed 33 submersible dives to the Titanic wreck, revealed his skepticism about the sub’s technology and stated that he would not have personally boarded it.

In a previous expedition, Cameron used a different technology called the Deepsea Challenger, which took him to the depths of the Pacific Ocean’s trench at 10,912m (35,800ft), whereas the Titanic wreck is at a depth of 3,810m (12,500ft).

Upon learning about the sub’s loss of navigation and communication, Cameron suspected a catastrophic event, such as an implosion.

Following the sub’s disappearance, Cameron reached out to his contacts in the deep submersible community and received information about the sub’s descent and the loss of communication and navigation, leading him to suspect an implosion.

The US Navy later confirmed the detection of an “acoustic anomaly consistent with an implosion” after the Titan lost contact with the surface.

Cameron highlighted the unfortunate parallel between the loss of the Titan and the sinking of the Titanic, emphasizing that warnings were disregarded in both cases.

He mentioned that some members of the deep submergence community had cautioned OceanGate through a letter, expressing their concerns about potential catastrophic outcomes.
Despite claims of rigorous testing, a former employee of OceanGate raised safety concerns about the vessel as far back as 2018, according to US court documents.

OceanGate’s co-founder defended the sub’s development program, stating that the 14-year process underwent rigorous testing and engineering.

Certification was not mandatory for the Titan sub, as it fell outside the accepted system, although the company asserted that it still met standards where they applied.

Cameron expressed frustration with the ongoing discussions around the sub’s failures and stressed the importance of being fully informed about the risks before venturing to the Titanic wreck, emphasizing the need for prevention in the 21st century.

He regarded the tragedy as preventable and highlighted the need for awareness and transparency regarding the risks involved in deep-sea exploration.