OceanGate Faces Significant Backlash For Submersible Pilot Job Listing While Titan Submersible Was Missing

OceanGate Expeditions, the company behind the ill-fated submersible that claimed the lives of five people, is facing more backlash after it was discovered the company listed a job for a submersible pilot. 

The job listing was still visible on the company’s website while the search and rescue mission was ongoing for the Titan submersible. The craft lost communication with its host ship shortly after beginning its descent to the Titanic wreckage site. It is believed that the craft imploded, and all five people aboard Titan are presumed dead.

The now-deleted listing was for a “Submersible Pilot/Marine Technician” to “manage and operate our fleet of manned submersibles and support vessels.” In a screenshot posted by TMZ, the ad states OceanGate is looking for “a combination of strong mechanical and interpersonal skills” to operate and maintain the equipment.

The company said the position was an “excellent opportunity for a high-energy professional” looking for something long-term. 

The outlet reports that although the listing was removed, it was active from Monday to Thursday. That time period falls just after the submersible was reported missing. It’s more likely the job posting was published before the submersible went missing, but social media users questioned the timing of the listing. 

OceanGate’s CEO, Stockton Rush, was among the five people that perished onboard Titan. British billionaire Hamish Harding, one of Pakistan’s wealthiest men, Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, and Titanic expert Paul-Henry Nargeole were the other victims that lost their lives in the catastrophe. 

The company has faced a significant amount of backlash, including from director James Cameron, over significant operational and design flaws.