Experience Level: Any level of experience

The 2023 implosion of the TITAN submersible in the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean created a media storm of speculation and conjecture.  By the time the US Coast Guard held hearings for the Marine Board of Investigation in September 2024, much of the conjecture was replaced by facts. However, for most people, the first time they heard of “OceanGate” or “Stockton Rush” was after the implosion, so their understanding of these events was colored by knowing the TITAN ends in disaster. The fact of the matter is that Stockton Rush was winning until he lost.  He was lauded as an innovator and disruptor. OceanGate’s decision to reject codes and standards for their third submarine, the TITAN, was done in the name of innovation.  This essentially recreated the conditions of the Age of Steam that caused the codification of engineering and the development of engineering registration. Many of the things that have been pointed to as “wrong”, such as using college interns or even the use of carbon fiber, were not wrong in principle but in execution.  One of the overlooked aspects was the nature of the engineering required a Professional Engineer at several stages. This presentation will outline the behind-the-scenes aspects of OceanGate with respect to engineering, engineering management, and engineering ethics. The presentation will also offer how these lessons extend to other areas of new technology, such as AI and data centers, the role of codes and standards, and how to better safeguard the public with respect to emerging technology. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe the events related to OceanGate and the implosion of the TITAN submersible, to include the significance of rejecting engineering codes and standards and the role of innovation.

2. List the major issues regarding the engineering, engineering management, and engineering ethics with respect to OceanGate and the implosion of the TITAN submersible.

3. Describe the role of Verification, Validation, and Uncertainty Quantification (VVUQ) with respect to innovation.

4. Identify key engineering ethics issues and describe how they apply to emerging technologies and other areas with developing or no engineering codes and standards.

5. List possible ways to mitigate the risks associated with these engineering ethics issues.

1 PDH

Pricing:

NSPE Members: FREE

Non-members: $75.00 (Join NSPE today and save on this purchase.)

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