James Cameron, director of the Oscar-winning film "Titanic," shared his thoughts on the recent submersible accident near the Titanic wreck site. Having made 33 dives to the wreckage, Cameron expressed his shock and concern about the tragedy. He emphasized that deep-sea diving is a mature art with a strong safety record, but the submersible involved in the accident had a flawed design principle, using a carbon fiber hull that can delaminate under pressure.
Cameron pointed out that the submersible had no backup systems and relied on sensors to detect potential cracks in the hull, which he believes is an inadequate safety measure. He also noted that the submersible's design was similar to one he had previously expressed concerns about, warning that someone would get killed using such a design.
Cameron believes that the incident highlights the importance of proper safety protocols and certification for deep-sea submersibles, especially those carrying paying passengers. He emphasized that the community should learn from this tragedy and improve safety standards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. James Cameron has made 33 dives to the Titanic wreckage site.
2. Cameron has spent more time on the Titanic than its captain did.
3. Cameron designed and built a submersible to reach the deepest point in the ocean, the Challenger Deep.
4. The submersible that sank while visiting the Titanic wreckage site was designed with a carbon fiber hull.
5. The use of carbon fiber for submersible hulls is not a proven standard and can be prone to delamination.
6. The Ocean Gate submersible had sensors on the inside of the hull to detect cracks, but this was seen as an inadequate safety measure by James Cameron.
7. The submersible that sank was not designed with backup systems or a two-sub system, which are common safety features in deep-sea exploration.
8. The Titanic wreckage site is a hostile and dangerous environment, with overhanging metal structures and a twisted mess of debris.
9. The wreckage of the Titanic is not expected to last forever and is slowly deteriorating.
10. The bow of the Titanic is being held together by the fact that it is deep in the mud, and it is expected to remain intact for a long time.
11. The deep sea is anoxic, meaning that there is no oxygen, which helps to preserve the wreckage of the Titanic.
12. James Cameron has worked with Russian submersibles, which have a proven track record of safety and reliability.
13. Cameron has a small equity stake in Triton Submersibles, a company that uses acrylic hulls for their submersibles.
14. The accident that occurred at the Titanic wreckage site is similar to the Titanic disaster itself, in that warnings were ignored and safety protocols were not followed.