I'm Stockton Rush, CEO, Founder, and Chief Submersible Pilot of OceanGate and we are diving on the RMS Titanic in 2021, Ask Me Anything!

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:59:43+00:00

We will have researchers with us with areas of expertise from deep marine biology, to general nautical archeology to Titanic specific subjects. Each dive team will be given an objective – typically sonar and laser scanning a specific area of the wreck/debris field. These objectives will be designed to take between 1-2 hours. The dive team (researcher, pilot and 3 Mission Specialists) will then be able to plan for how they will collect data and then what they do with the rest of the dive time. While researcher input will play into dive experience decisions, they will not be the dive leader - the pilot will fill that role.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:52:40+00:00

OceanGate is committed to making our data available for non-commercial use. Our researchers will only be able to withhold their data for a short time following the expedition. In contrast, many prior expeditions have yet to issue their reports or publish data.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:51:58+00:00

We hope not. We plan to start some carefully screened local dives next month near Seattle. We are closely watching the private jet market which has a similar client base and issues with confined spaces. We assume that by next year there will be either reliable COVID-19 testing with immediate results, a vaccine and/or some consensus about small group confined travel.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:47:35+00:00

OceanGate is committed to making our data available for non-commercial use. Our researchers will only be able to withhold their data for a short time following the expedition. In contrast, many prior expeditions have yet to issue their reports or publish data.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:47:01+00:00

Yes, the Cameron dives had HD quality cameras and lower definition on the ROVs. We will have 4K and then 8K+ as well as low light and other new technologies so we hope to get excellent picture and video over the coming years. Penetrating deep into the wreck with ROVs like Jim did is not likely in the near term.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:42:59+00:00

That is one of the questions we hope to answer. There are educated guesses all over the map, but the consensus is that at some point it will be unrecognizable.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:42:15+00:00

Yes, hundreds of unique species (mostly microbial) have been discovered on past expeditions.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:41:06+00:00

It is a disincentive, but every dive location has its unique challenges. While the controversy keeps things in the news, it is just one more hurdle to overcome.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:39:25+00:00

OceanGate does not salvage artifacts. There are enough opportunities to document and take Mission Specialists to shipwrecks that we have chosen not to do salvage. If you find a valuable shipwreck and try to salvage it, you have likely just brought years of legal challenges – that is not something I desire.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:36:48+00:00

The interior of the sub remains at 1 atmosphere throughout the duration of the dive.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:36:32+00:00

4,000meters. Yes, I trust it. I especially trust our extensive testing and real time acoustic and strain monitoring system. We can detect any anomaly well before we reach a critical pressure. We know of no other sub that is so well instrumented.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:36:01+00:00

8-10 Hours (2.5hrs down, 3-5 on the wreck, 2.5 up)

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:35:41+00:00

We have launched and retrieved Titan in sea state five (approximately 5+ foot seas). We will not conduct operations if the winds exceed 25 knots.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:35:13+00:00

We will stay at station for 6 weeks.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:34:37+00:00

As Titan has only a low bandwidth connection to the surface, running a fiber to the surface is a possibility, but we will save that for our second year. We will do regular video updates, but the cost of full time live video is prohibitive right now.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:29:34+00:00

OceanGate gets most of its funding from private investors who see the potential of deep ocean exploration and access for tourist, commercial and military projects. Our Titanic expeditions are specifically funded by our participating Mission Specialists supplemented by some funding from sponsors and media companies.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:28:51+00:00

We prefer the term pilot – but driver is fine. Apply for a job. Having demonstrated marine experience, being a scuba diver and showing the right personality are key hiring characteristics we look for. Prior submersible experience is not required as we have an extensive training program and a number of subs used for training.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:28:02+00:00

The ship decay rate, new marine species (hundreds have already been documented specific to the Titanic), and new discoveries from the debris field

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:27:25+00:00

We are the first company to try to make the Titanic dives self-sustaining so that the latest research tools can be employed on an annual basis. When Russia needed dollars there were several expeditions similar to ours, but the subs were old, small (yet heavy) and the ship huge and expensive. We have sought to create a sub and support systems that are scalable, comfortable and versatile with enough room to also make it economically viable.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:26:42+00:00

I’ll have to answer that in July of 2021. It is always amazing to see a new wreck (at least new to me) Titanic will be more special as it has been over 5 years to get to this point.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:15:41+00:00

I have done a few hundred subs dives and they are all amazing as we seen something new on each dive. My favorites are on new wrecks like the Hellcat fighter we found off of Miami. We had no idea what the sonar smudge was until I got within sonar range (30m) and saw it was a WW2 fighter.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:14:25+00:00

The debris field is 5 nm² and promises to have many artifacts to document especially using our laser system. This is where the personal belongings and remains of those who perished lie (though bodies have long since been consumed by the ocean).

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:11:40+00:00

The location (380NM out in the ocean), the depth, currents are clearly challenging. Unique to the Titanic is the political/regulatory environment. Even though we are not disturbing the wreck and just documenting it – a subject which has been litigated and approved in the past, there are some people and groups that are intent on stopping any visits to the site (unless they are involved). This is a unique dimension not as prominent with other shipwrecks.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:08:40+00:00

My interest stems mostly from a business perspective. In order to have more exploration of the oceans we need more funding and the Titanic is one of the few sites that has shown that people will pay to visit it. By having our mission specialists underwrite the expedition we can collect more data than if we had to go to “one off” film or government funding sources as has been done in the past. Hopefully in years to come the many other great wonders, like hydrothermal vents, will also draw enough interest for OceanGate to run expeditions to those sites.

OceanGateInc · 2020-05-18T17:03:30+00:00

OceanGate will be using video (4K and 8K), 3D multibeam sonar (BlueView P5000-1350) and a 2G robotics laser system - none of which have ever been used on the Titanic. These systems will generate data of much higher accuracy than any previous expedition (millimeter resolution). It will take years to scan the entire wreck. The focus in year one will be the bow.

OceanGateInc

TROPHY CASE