On June 18th, 2023, the "Titan," created by OceanGate Expedition, began its journey to investigate the ruins of the sunken Titanic. However, the Titan was never to be seen again, as the submersible imploded under extreme pressure at a depth of 3700m. 5 moguls on board, including the CEO of OceanGate, have passed away due to the tragic incident. However, would you believe this tragic incident was destined from the beginning?

The submersible was not prepared to make such a profound journey underwater, as prior passengers testified that surviving the ride was a miracle. The pressure underwater at 3700m is 37140kPa, about 370 times stronger than the pressure we experience. However, the submersible used glass for the windows that could only withstand pressures at depths of 1300m, which meant it had a very high risk of shattering at such low depths as 3700m.

Also, the submersible design was cylindrical, unlike the conventional sphere. Unlike a sphere that receives equal pressure from all sides, this design focuses pressure on the middle, causing high risks of disfiguration.

Moreover, the submersible added weights to the sink instead of utilizing a ballast tank, which works by adding and subtracting water in the tank to control the tank's weight, making it much harder to escape in an emergency. Lastly, there have been no additional check-ups on the submersible to check if it is in a usable state.

This tragic incident could have been prevented with more attention to safety and alternative plans in terms of emergency. All companies, regardless of what they make, should take this as a learning experience and ensure that their product is safe before customers use them. 

최민준 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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