Titanic expedition firm’s CEO told aspiring explorers to ‘safety is pure waste’ (Picture: OceanGate)
The CEO of the missing tourist submarine with five people aboard revealed his fears regarding the voyage last year.
Stockton Rush, who runs OceanGate Expeditions, is one member of a crew of five people who submerged 12,5000 ft underwater as part of a $250,000-a-head Titanic tour yesterday.
Also on board is British billionaire Hamish Harding, along with French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman.
They launched at 4am yesterday but lost communication with the mothership one hour and 45 minutes later.
In an interview given last year, Rush said the explorers would be safe and had the oxygen necessary to survive.
But he then added there was a ‘limit’ to safety.
He told CBS News: ‘You know, there’s a limit. At some point safety just is pure waste. I mean if you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed.
‘Don’t get in your car. Don’t do anything. At some point, you’re going to take some risk, and it really is a risk/reward question. I think I can do this just as safely by breaking the rules.’
Stockton Rush is onboard the submarine which has gone missing (Picture: OceanGate)
The submarine was taking passengers to view Titanic wreckage (Picture: Oceangate Expeditions)
Rush then added he was most worried about the about the submarine’s ability to resurface.
‘What I worry about most are things that will stop me from being able to get to the surface,’ he said.
‘Overhangs, fish nets, entanglement hazards. And, that’s just a technique, piloting technique. It’s pretty clear – if it’s an overhang, don’t go under it. If there is a net, don’t go near it. So, you can avoid those if you are just slow and steady.’
He explained the submarine was ‘simplistic’ in its design, with the machine being controlled with a white Xbox controller.
Also on board is British billionaire Hamish Harding (Picture: PA)
Paul-Henri Nargeolet is one of the leading experts on the Titanic shipwreck and is confirmed to be onboard the submarine (Picture: Fivedeeps)
‘We run the whole thing with this game controller,’ he said. ‘It should be like an elevator, it shouldn’t take a lot of skill.’
According to OceanGate’s website, the submarine can last for up to 96 hours underwater with five people consuming oxygen.
But more than 30 hours since the US Coast Guard launched the rescue mission, it is still no where to be found.
Rescuers have admitted the vessel could have become stuck in the wreckage of the Titanic.
Shahzada Dawood is on the submersible with his son Suleman (Picture: World Economic Forum)
Experts also fear the submarine is too deep for a manned rescue team to reach.
OceanGate Expeditions said its focus was on those aboard the vessel and their families.
‘We are deeply thankful for the extensive assistance we have received from several government agencies and deep sea companies in our efforts to re-establish contact with the submersible,’ the company said in a statement.
‘We are working toward the safe return of the crew members.’
‘You know, there’s a limit. At some point safety just is pure waste. I mean if you just want to be safe, don’t get out of bed.’