this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2023
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Film director James Cameron has expertise in designing and testing these submersibles, and he has many criticisms of the design of the sub that imploded, and of the hubris of the CEO who ignored repeated safety warnings from the diving community. He also mentions that the sub seems to have been attempting to resurface when it imploded, suggesting that they were aware the hull was starting to fail.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (14 children)

If it really happened the way he says it did (implosion at 3,500 ft when they were travelling down to 13,000 ft) this sub was in no shape or form suited for this dive.

It's not confirmed at this point as I understand and Cameron also disclosed it as a rumor in a recent interview on Youtube.

Just read about Stockton Rush's (CEO and "pilot" of the sub, presumed dead) views about security:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton_Rush

It's just amazing how an aircraft pilot, a guy with an ivy-league degree in aerospace engineering can have such twisted ideas about standards, regulations, and security in general.

No way in hell would I have signed up for this haphazard dive.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (8 children)

aerospace engineering

While obviously he intellectually knew the requirements were different, and even managed to build something that survived a few trips, I almost wonder if there is a certain amount of mental inertia there, similar to the old saw, "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." In aircraft, and even spacecraft, you do so much more to save weight than would be necessary or appropriate for designing a submarine, and your pressure vessel will never need to handle more than 1 atmosphere. Again, I'm not suggesting that he was literally stupid and didn't understand that at some level, but I haven't heard from anyone who's been around subs who thinks he was on the right developmental track.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There's also that old adage about experts being particularly vulnerable to believing they are smart and capable in other fields. It seems this is particularly prevalent among engineers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I've also run across it frequently from doctors, who have that same impulse, plus they had to start specializing basically their sophomore year of college, and then they get cultural feedback that they are the best and brightest. They seem especially prone to stupid business ideas that, if they weren't stupid, would let them go from extremely comfortable and locally influential, to being the powerful magnates that their intellect and service clearly entitles them to be.

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