OceanGates Titan Submersible is, for as much as they charge, mostly cobbled together.

[Lancero]

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/titanic-missing-submarine-oceangate-stockton-rush-b2360739.html

The only thing that's manufactured to anything approaching reasonable standards for the kind of stress it's expected to withstand is the pressure vessel. Everything else... Not so much.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a ticket, wonder where the money goes? Certainly not into the sub, what with all the corners they've cut.

[treestar]

1. An interview with the reporter

who went on one of the trips - the CEO said it does not make money.

Somehow it costs more than a million to pull off one of the trips, if that's the case.

[getagrip_already]

2. You can stop at "the ceo says".....

They never tell the truth, well, not the whole truth.

This is likely a shell company. Everything is leased from other independence shell companies (probably controlled by the same backers), so there are few assets. As money comes, it goes out to pay those leases, as well as salaries and bonuses.

So technically, it makes no money. But money is being made. Just not by the outward facing shell.

[NotVeryImportant]

7. Basically.

[sanatanadharma]

3. Web site pages of OceanGate

The page for the now lost vehicle

The page for board of directors

The page for the Titanic tour

Click tabs near top for other pages

[BannonsLiver]

4. Are you an engineer?

[modrepub]

5. Caveat Emptor

This is an example of unregulated capitalism at its finest. Who needs stinking regulations anyway?

[Hugin]

8. A used car I bought once had a 130 point certification check...

The next day the battery died.

I'm still curious as to if there is any independent verification of any OceansGate vessel reaching the depths claimed.

[dclarston13]

9. The vessel can withstand the depth

Thats not the issue. Its like shooting a rocket into space can it get there? probably, but can it get back???

The original submarine that found the titanic was the Alvin it had multiple layers of protection to ensure the safety of the occupants. For example the bolts attaching the hatch were fitted with explosives that could be activated to open the hatch in an emergency. This is not rare, actually even the Buick TourX car has exploding bolts built into the hood hinges to protect a pedestrian should you hit one. The bolts blow the hood towards the pedestrian and protect then from going through the windshield. I think this feature is common on some European cars.
So Oceangate CHOSE not to incorporate this feature, Also the ballast (which is what makes the vessel dense enough to sink) on the Alvin was attached with dissolving attachments (Anodes) that if it was underwater for a predetermined amount of time they would fall off and the vessel would float to the surface.

To me this whole situation is similar to climbing Everest only much more dangerous. While climbing Everest there are times where if you get in trouble you are done. It seems to me like Oceangate chose not use a Sherpa to climb Everest.
Its a big ocean I have personally sailed across the Atlantic more times than I can count, for most of the trip you are your own. I sincerely hope they find the vessel in time, but time is running out. Also people use breathing air much faster when they are under duress or panic.

[NowISeetheLight]

13. Alvin

Alvin is a legend. It just finished a multi-million dollar upgrade. Bigger sphere and tech. It's 58+ years old and going strong.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wcvb.com/amp/article/woods-hole-alvin-submarine-underwater-history-again/40743093

https://www.google.com/amp/s/spectrum.ieee.org/amp/history-of-alvin-submersible-2656083362

[Lancero]

12. Bigger question would be even if it was verified, could it still have reached that distance?

Hardware tends to degrade as times goes on, and long term maintenance is a popular first cut if someone needs to improve profit margins.

[dclarston13]

15. Not easily or quickly NT

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. That thing looks like something out of 20,000 Leagues

under the Sea.

[milestogo]

11. They should be unmanned.

[DemocraticPatriot]

16. Damned expensive way to commit suicide...