Many were the warnings OceanGate had received about the safety of missions with the Titan submarine, which was still being prepared and planned by the company, and about the potentially catastrophic problems that could arise for its passengers.

On Tuesday, the New York Times they published one letter written in 2018 by industry experts in the field of submarines, warning Stockton Rush, owner of OceanGate, of possible “catastrophic” problems and speaking of an “experimental approach” of the company.

The Marine Technology Society, an industry group made up of ocean engineers, technologists, policy makers and educators, expressed “concern about the planned Titan missions” and warned against the “current experimental approach being taken by OceanGate”. The question they posed was whether the Titan submarine would were assessed by the industry’s independent regulatory authorities.

The Marine Technology Society criticized OceanGate for advertising that the Titan’s design would “meet or exceed the safety standards of the leading classification society (DNV-GL)”, while it does not intend to have the vessel assessed by the same independent body .

DNV is an independent organization – described as the world’s leading taxonomist for the shipping industry – which certifies vessels such as submarines and issues regulations for such products. In the case of ships like the Titan, the DNV classification process looks at whether “internationally recognized rules” have been met and includes inspections during the construction and operational phase. In its letter, the Marine Technology Society wrote: “We recommend at a minimum that you establish a standard test program which is reviewed and audited by DNV-GL.”