‘Transcript of Titan sub’s final communication’ leaked online – but is it real?

Indy100 ^ | July 5, 2023 | Harriet Brewis

[xxqqzz]

Screenshots of what purports to be the Titan submersible’s final communications before its tragic destruction have gone viral online.

The unconfirmed script alleges to reveal the final words shared between someone on board the sub – presumably OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush – and the team on board its mothership the Polar Prince.

The document has raised a number of concerns, most notably by suggesting that passengers were aware of issues with the vessel some 18 minutes before its devastating implosion.

[xxqqzz]

According to the transcript, they first noticed indicators from their monitoring system that there were problems with the carbon fiber. Then they heard crackling. They started to ascend. They were ascending very slowly, partly because the main battery for their thrusters was not working, probably because it was water logged. Then they said all indicators on their monitoring system were red. Then they stopped communicating.

[gundog]

Better or worse than four days anticipating rescue, and then running out of air?

[Fungi]

These idiots did not test it with no passengers?

[NWFree]

“ Flight Com! I can’t hold it! She’s breaking up, she’s break—”

[Organic Panic]

Compare it to previous dives.

I say fake. There wouldn’t really be any “real time monitors” on a hull unless they installed load sensors all over but using student interns I doubt they thought that far ahead.

[dware]

This doesn’t jive with reports from Rush himself that he had switched to a non-text based system that basically just told the topside where they were and what depth. According to reports, Rush got tired of topside interrupting their voyage with requests for status updates. I don’t know that this was confirmed, however.

[dware]

There wouldn’t really be any “real time monitors” on a hull

If memory serves, there were indeed real time monitors on the hull.

[BipolarBob]

20 RTM sensors. Acoustic sensors to detect structural changes before failure. At least that was the theory.

[Yogafist]

If I recall correctly, the surface monitors did not report the sub over due until it was two hours late. I can’t imagine the monitors not starting to setup rescue if there was communication the sub was experiencing problems, and then stopped communicating.

[DesertRhino]

But on the bright side, his real time monitoring system worked! Before failure, there were terrifying flashing red lights and a claxon or something!

[JustaTech]

I say fake. There wouldn’t really be any “real time monitors” on a hull unless they installed load sensors all over but using student interns I doubt they thought that far ahead.

They may have had acoustic pick-ups attached to the hull which picked up sounds of carbon fiber separation/delamination.

[dfwgator]

“What does this button do?”

[Obadiah]

Don’t blame me, I’m over 50 and white.

[broken_clock]

Sum ting Wong?

[hattend]

It had been to the Titanic at least once before.

[R_Kangel]

...... Whatever you do .... Don’t Press the RED Button!!!

[Rummyfan]

Glug, glug, glug?!

[Nuc 1.1]

Wi Tu Lo

[dfwgator]

First, you say it, then you do it.

[Widget Jr]

The transcript was posted in a video on TikTok. The uploader says upfront this is not verified. Transcript starts at 37s. into this video. It goes by quick so pause to see the text.

From the transcript one Jeff Ostroff made a video. He thinks there were signs the dive was in trouble from the start, as the Titan was descending faster than expected. When it got in trouble it ascending slowly before communication stopped.

It was 19 minutes from realizing there was a problem to communications stopping. That is a long time waiting to die fast.