Chris Brown, a 61-year-old businessman and digital marketer, had reserved a place on the Titan submarine from OceanGate for a journey to the wreckage of the Titanic. However, he decided to give up on the trip after his best friend, British explorer Hamish Hardin, who was also part of the journey, ended up being one of the five fatalities.
Brown and Hardin made the decision to visit the remains of the sunken ship in 1912 while on Richard Branson’s private island in 2018. They were among the first to pay 10% of the trip’s cost, which was £80,000 at the time.
However, Brown’s doubts started to arise when he traveled to the Bahamas to see how the submersible was being prepared. He discovered that the security and technology of the submarine were not up to the task of such an expedition. The use of old scaffolding poles for ballast and computer game controllers for controls raised concerns for Brown.
He also questioned the improvised lighting, confined spaces, and the position of the thrusters near cables that could be a safety hazard. The fact that the submarine could only be opened from the outside further increased his hesitation.
Brown’s doubts were solidified when he sent an email to OceanGate asking for safety certification but received no response. This led him to request a refund of the 10% down payment and ultimately decide not to go on the trip.
Despite Brown’s decision, his friend Hardin continued with the plan and tragically became one of the five fatalities. The remains of the submarine were found 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic.
Hardin, a passionate adventurer, was a British billionaire and aviation magnate. He had flown into space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, participated in missions to the South Pole, and submerged Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth.
The catastrophic implosion that destroyed the submarine would have caused instant death for the crew due to the crushing pressure of the water columns at the
Why did Chris Brown request safety certification from OceanGate and how did their lack of response impact his decision to opt out of the trip
Chris Brown, a 61-year-old businessman and digital marketer, initially planned to embark on a journey to the wreckage of the Titanic aboard the Titan submarine from OceanGate. However, his decision changed abruptly after his close friend and fellow explorer, Hamish Hardin, tragically lost his life along with four others during the trip.
Brown and Hardin had made the decision to visit the remains of the sunken ship during their time on Richard Branson’s private island in 2018. They were among the first individuals to make a 10% down payment of the trip’s £80,000 cost at the time.
However, Brown’s confidence in the journey began to waver when he traveled to the Bahamas to witness the preparations for the submarine. He was disheartened to find that the security measures and technology of the submersible were inadequate for such a challenging expedition. The usage of outdated scaffolding poles for ballast and computer game controllers for controls raised serious concerns for Brown.
Moreover, he questioned the subpar lighting arrangements, cramped spaces, and the potential safety hazards posed by the thrusters’ proximity to cables. The fact that the submarine could only be accessed from the outside further amplified his doubts.
To address his concerns, Brown contacted OceanGate via email requesting safety certification but received no response. Frustrated by this lack of communication, he decided to withdraw his 10% down payment and ultimately opt out of the trip.
Although Brown chose not to proceed with the journey, his friend Hardin, a passionate adventurer who was also a British billionaire and aviation magnate, remained committed to the plan. Tragically, he was among the five fatalities that occurred during the expedition. The wreckage of the submarine was discovered 500 meters away from the bow of the Titanic.
Hardin had an impressive track record of exploring and participating in daring feats. He had traveled to space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, embarked on missions to the South Pole, and even reached Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth.
The catastrophic implosion that led to the submarine’s destruction would have resulted in instant death for the crew due to the immense pressure exerted by the water columns at those depths.
It turns out that canceling his reservation for the Titanic Submarine Expedition was a wise move for Chris Brown. Sometimes, even the unlikeliest decisions can be a narrow escape from potential tragedy.