OceanGate's deadly implosion of the Titan submersible could lead to a new classification for 'millionaire thrill rides'.

The ongoing U.S. Coast Guard hearing about OceanGate's failed Titan submersible expedition could result in stricter regulations for future private undersea exploration companies, according to experts.

Former National Transportation Safety Board investigator Alan Diehl told Planet Chronicle Digital that the NTSB may want to examine the entire issue of certifying "millionaire thrill rides."

In June 2023, OceanGate Titan imploded and resulted in the death of U.K. billionaire Hamish Harding, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, father-son pair Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood, and French mariner Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

The last message they sent to the support ship Polar Prince was, "We're doing well."

On Monday, Tony Nissen, OceanGate's ex-chief engineer, stated that he was under pressure to prepare the ship for diving and declined to pilot it during its first voyage.

According to his testimony, Rush stated that Nissen said he wouldn't participate.

Nissen stated that there was 100% pressure to launch the vessel into the water. He explained that he halted the submersible from reaching the Titanic in 2019 because it was not functioning as expected, and he was subsequently let go.

The Titanic disaster brought to light the risks of integrating experimental technology with commercial ventures, according to Robert A. Sanders, a former U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps captain and current professor at the University of New Haven, who shared his thoughts with Planet Chronicle Digital.

"Sanders stated that the experimental project was being used as a commercial venture to generate revenue, which posed a risk to the public. The public might not be aware of the difference."

On Tuesday, David Lochridge, who was previously OceanGate's director of operations, stated that safety was neglected in favor of the company's financial goals. He claimed that the company's primary objective was to generate profits and that there was little emphasis on scientific research.

"A safety-first mariner would say, 'I won't do these extra tasks because I don't have all the safety procedures yet,'" Sanders stated.

"According to the information available, this business was facing significant financial difficulties and required a successful event to secure financial stability," Sanders stated. "Perhaps the most accurate evaluation would have been to halt [the project]."

According to Sanders, the submersible was unique in several ways. It was the first privately owned submersible designed for civilian travel, and it was constructed from titanium and carbon fiber materials. Unlike typical ships, it did not have a spherical shape and was capable of reaching great depths.

According to Sanders, submarines are typically double-hulled, constructed from steel, and utilize specialized welding materials due to the high pressure they experience.

The soda-can-shaped entity had a reinforced cloth exterior that could withstand high pressures at certain depths. However, it was not suitable for going to the bottom of the trench where the Titanic lies.

In the hearing on Tuesday, Lochridge stated that the Titan's hull resembled "porous paper" and expressed surprise at the decision to reuse components such as domes, acrylic parts, and interior elements of the vessel.

The sub's viewport and dome ceilings did not adhere to the standard design, and he was horrified by its O-ring seals, referring to the vessel as a monstrosity of a sub.

According to testimony, the Titan sub was never independently reviewed despite having gone on several dives.

If more private undersea ventures are to occur, regulations on submersibles are necessary, as Sanders pointed out in light of the Titan tragedy.

"The Coast Guard may hold additional hearings for a proposed change to the code of federal regulations governing the commercial use of submersible vehicles, in order to ensure the safety of passengers, similarly to how we regulate the aviation and shipping industries."

"As we expand into new territories, perhaps new regulations are necessary to prevent individuals from engaging in inherently dangerous activities that fall beyond our current scientific understanding. However, as our knowledge expands, those restrictions may become less stringent."