OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush, who is aboard the missing submersible, once explained his decision to prioritize “inspirational” captains over “50-year-old White guys” with military backgrounds in operating his vessels. Rush’s rationale is that piloting the submersibles, which are controlled by a $30 video game controller, can be handled by anyone. In a Zoom interview with Teledyne Marine in 2020, Rush remarked on the common presence of older, Caucasian ex-military submariners among other sub operators, emphasizing his desire for a younger and more inspirational team. He believes that by involving intelligent and motivated individuals in their twenties, they can inspire others to pursue marine technology.
OceanGate’s approach draws heavily from the aerospace industry in terms of safety protocols and risk assessments. Rush explains that their methods, although more aligned with aviation practices than ocean-related ones, can be effectively taught to personnel. Their use of a game controller for piloting the submersibles aims to facilitate ease of operation.
Rush was among the five crew members on board the OceanGate’s Titan submarine, which went missing during a dive to explore the Titanic’s wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean. With the crew currently trapped inside the submersible and facing diminishing oxygen levels, rescue operations led by U.S. and Canadian officials are underway. The remaining passengers include Paul-Henry Nargeolet, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, and Sulaiman Dawood.
OceanGate Expeditions offers dives to a depth of 13,120 feet in their 22-foot submersible at a cost of $250,000. In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Rush revealed that the submersible is controlled using a Logitech F710 wireless gamepad, which costs only $30. The Titan has a crew support capacity of 96 hours, according to the company’s website. The Coast Guard reported that the submersible lost communication approximately one hour and 45 minutes after leaving the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince on Sunday morning for its mission to the Titanic.
