Paul-Henri Nargeolet was well-known for his frequent dives to the Titanic shipwreck.
Relatives of an explorer who tragically died on a submersible that collapsed while attempting to dive to the Titanic shipwreck have filed a lawsuit against the company operating the craft, claiming responsibility for his death and the subsequent implosion.
According to the wrongful death lawsuit from Nargeolet’s relatives, OceanGate, the company in question, had been cautioned that the sub, Titan, was not adequately equipped to reach the Titanic due to its construction with carbon fiber instead of the typical titanium used by builders.
Furthermore, the filing asserts that other components of the sub, such as its porthole, were also not designed to withstand the immense pressure encountered during the descent to the Titanic.
Nargeolet, nicknamed Mr. Titanic for his numerous dives to the Titanic wreckage, had joined OceanGate after being led to believe by owner R.S. Rush III that Boeing had collaborated in the development of Titan, as per his family.
However, Boeing later clarified that it had not participated in the Titan development.
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The lawsuit further alleges that key details about the design and construction of Titan were not fully disclosed to Nargeolet by Rush or OceanGate. Instead, false impressions about the safety and seaworthiness of the vessel were fostered by Rush and OceanGate.
Electroimpact, Janicki Industries, and Hydrospace Group, all involved in building parts of Titan and named as defendants, did not respond to requests for comment.
OceanGate, which ceased operations following the implosion, Rush’s estate, and Tony Nissen, OceanGate’s former director of engineering, were unreachable for comments.
Nargeolet’s family is seeking damages exceeding $50 million from the defendants, including OceanGate and Rush’s estate.
“The lawsuit raises serious concerns about the Titan submersible,” said Tony Buzbee, one of the family’s legal representatives. “It is significant that despite the University of Washington and Boeing playing crucial roles in the design of previous versions of the Titan, both have now disclaimed any involvement in the submersible model that collapsed. We hope that this lawsuit will provide answers to the family regarding the circumstances of the incident, the individuals involved, and how such a tragedy could have occurred.”
The implosion of the sub occurred in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland on June 18, 2023, resulting in the deaths of Rush, Nargeolet, and three passengers.
In a previous lawsuit from a former OceanGate employee, concerns were raised about the sub’s carbon fiber hull, leading to the employee’s termination.
Lochbridge also discovered that the viewport could only withstand pressure up to 1,300 meters, significantly lower than the depth of the Titanic wreckage.
OceanGate has refuted Lochbridge’s claims as false.
Please rewrite the following sentence to improve clarity:
“The report was not completed due to the fact that the team ran out of time.”
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