After top-secret underwater devices detected an explosion near the Titanic’s final resting spot less than two hours after the launch, the U.S. Navy knew that there was little hope for finding the Titanic’s five-man submersible crew.
The Wall Street Journal reported that “the U.S. Navy performed an analysis of acoustic information and detected an anomaly compatible with an explosion or implosion in the general area where the Titan submersible operated when communications were lost.” A senior U.S. Navy officer made the statement. This information, while not conclusive, was immediately passed on to the Incident Commander in order to aid the ongoing search-and-rescue mission.
Was this information shared with families if it was given to the incident commander? If it was, then why the “rescue” charade?
James Cameron, the director of Titanic and the blockbuster movie, has made over 30 dives into the wreckage. He says that he immediately knew what happened.
He told a British radio station that if the submarine’s communication system, electronics, and tracking transponder all failed simultaneously, “the sub is gone.”
“For me, there was no doubt. I knew that sub was sitting exactly underneath its last known depth and position, and that’s exactly where they found it,” he added. “There was no search. When they finally got an ROV down there that could make the depth, they found it within hours. Probably within minutes.”
Why continue the search?
New York Times:
One official said that because there was no conclusive visual evidence or other proof of a catastrophic event, it would be “irresponsible”, to assume immediately that the five passengers had died. The search was therefore ordered to continue, despite the grim outlook. The Navy officials both spoke under the condition of anonymity in order to discuss operational details.
The Navy did not make public its acoustical analyses earlier, nor was it immediately clear to what extent the analysis had been shared with the search team. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the Navy’s acoustic analyses from its secret sensor network.
Cameron described the “rescue operations” coverage as a “prolonged, nightmarish charade.”
He said, “That was a cruel and slow turn of screw over four days in my opinion.” “Because Monday morning I knew the truth.”
Cameron is not a Hollywood egomaniac. Cameron is no Hollywood blowhard.
The director of the film thinks he knows why the car imploded.
Cameron pointed out that the Titan’s construction is made of carbon-fiber composites as a weakness in its design and perhaps a warning to its passengers. These materials are widely used in the aerospace industry, as they are lighter than steel and aluminum but are also stronger and more rigid.
The problem, according to Mr. Cameron, is that carbon-fiber composites have “no strength when compressed” — which occurs as an underwater vehicle plunges deeper and deeper into the abyss while facing soaring increases in water pressure. “It’s just not what the vehicle was designed for.”
All parties involved can benefit from 20/20 hindsight. OceanGate has taken 28 divers to the Titanic on previous dives. Although it wasn’t always a smooth ride, there weren’t any major incidents. It’s not a good idea to point out design flaws.
