He said he offered corrective action recommendations for each of the individual problems. In early 2018, Lochridge issued his inspection report on the Titan. It would simply flag components that were about to fail, he warned-which often happened “milliseconds before an implosion.” Lochridge expressed concern that such an acoustic system would not be able to detect existing flaws. However, OceanGate allegedly told Lochridge that instead of carrying out the testing, it would install an acoustic monitoring system in the submersible to detect the start of any potential hull breakdown. It was crucial, he said, to conduct non-destructive testing so that a solid and safe product could be provided for both passengers and crew.ĭiving the submersible “without any non-destructive testing to prove its integrity” would “subject passengers to potential extreme danger in an experimental submersible,” Lochridge said in legal documents. Lochridge warned that the constant pressure on the Titan as it traveled deeper underwater would weaken any existing structural flaws, resulting in large tears to its carbon components. He said he had been repeatedly told that due to the hull’s thickness, no form of equipment existed to sufficiently perform the tests. Lochridge was also anxious about the lack of non-destructive testing performed on the Titan’s hull. OceanGate wanted the Titan to carry passengers to “extreme depths” of 4,000 meters, Lochridge said-a depth never before reached by a manned OceanGate vessel comprised of carbon fiber.Ī submersible vessel’s hull is the structure that provides its occupants with a dry, pressure-resistant environment.Īccording to MIT, submersibles’ pressure hulls are usually made of steel, aluminum, titanium, acrylic plastic, and glass, with steel being the most widely used material due to its “outstanding performance in the ocean.” Instead of using the industry standard metallic composition for its hull, Lochridge said in the lawsuit, the Titan’s hull was composed of carbon fiber. Materials and testingĪmong his concerns was the materials used on the Titan. Lochridge subsequently raised concerns over this and other safety and quality control issues regarding the Titan to the company’s executive team, he said in court documents-but he claimed his concerns were ignored. However, he alleged to have been “met with hostility and denial of access to the necessary documentation that should have been freely available as a part of his inspection process.” Since Monday knows the destination of the ticket, it's up to Wilee to find a way to get past Monday's forces and deliver the ticket on time for Nima.OceanGate confirmed to Fortune on Tuesday that Rush was currently on board the Titan.Īs he worked on his report, Lochridge said he requested documents from OceanGate’s engineering director about the design of the Titan’s window and pressure tests that had been conducted on it. Once they arrive, Wilee escapes with the ticket, thanks to the help of his ex-girlfriend. Monday gets into the ambulance with Wilee, and he presses down on Wilee's injuries until Wilee reveals that he'll exchange the ticket for his bike, which is down at the impound. He chases down Manny, retrieves the ticket, and is on his way to safety when he is smashed into by a taxi cab. Meanwhile, Nima finds Wilee and tells him the truth about the ticket, and he feels horrible. Manny takes off, with Monday hot in pursuit. His rival at the company, Manny, says he'll do it for him. Monday threatens Wilee, who escapes and goes back to his delivery dispatch, refusing to get involved with the delivery of this item. Meanwhile, a loan shark learns about the tickets and asks a corrupt cop who owes him money, Bobby Monday, to go get the ticket from Wilee. She trusts Wilee to make the delivery for her. She turns her money into a special "ticket," a receipt for the delivered money, that must be given to the smuggler before 7 PM or her mother and son will be sent back to China. Nima, the roommate of Wiley's ex-girlfriend, has raised money for the last two years in order to facilitate the smuggling of her mother and son into America from China. Wilee is a bike messenger in New York City, who rides faster and more recklessly than any other biker.
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