Engineer Testifies at Titan Submersible Hearing

At a US Coast Guard hearing, Tony Nissen, the former engineering director of OceanGate, testified that he felt significant pressure from CEO Stockton Rush to ready the Titan submersible for dives, specifically to the Titanic wreck. Nissen recounted refusing to pilot the vessel due to safety concerns and distrust of the operations team, stating, 'I’m not getting in it.' He described Rush as a difficult boss who prioritized cost and schedule over safety, leading to internal clashes that were often hidden from other staff members. Nissen also noted that the Titan's hull may have been compromised after being struck by lightning in 2018, as well as ongoing safety issues leading up to the sub's implosion on June 18, 2023, which killed Rush and four others. The hearing is part of a broader investigation into the practices of OceanGate and the future of private undersea exploration.