UPDATED: Nov. 12, 2023
JUNE 22, 2023 (BATON ROUGE) Kemper Engineering Services (KES) provided subject matter expert commentary regarding public safety as it pertained to the tragedy of the OceanGate experimental submersible TITAN events and loss of life. Our Principal Engineer, Bart Kemper, P.E., DFE, is a licensed Professional Engineer, a board-certified forensic engineer, and is a member of the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SNAME) and the Marine Technology Society (MTS). Four of the KES team are members of the ASME Codes & Standards Committee for Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy (PVHO) or its subcommittees, which includes safety standards for submarines and their viewports. KES gave interviews to over 20 print, radio, and broadcast outlets in less than four days due to the exigent need to address incorrect information in the initial media reports. Now that the situation has transitioned to recovery operations, we will reduce our support for the press and resume our normal work for our clients. We safeguard the public first and foremost, but we also protect our clients’ interests by safeguarding their projects and information.
In 2018 Bart Kemper, as an official representative of KES, agreed to be included on a letter by the Submarine community within the Marine Technology Society intended for the company leadership of OceanGate with regards to their latest submersible development due to significant concerns related to public safety. The letter was never signed nor sent due to it being against the technical society’s policy as well as potential issues with the government and anti-trust laws. Instead, a number of individuals met with OceanGate’s leadership to present the collective concerns. OceanGate made some changes regarding statements about their newest development, the TITAN experimental submersible (formerly CYCLOPS II).
The core issues regarding choosing to not use classification societies or published codes & standards was a significant deviation from the established standard of care in the industry and continued to be a point of disagreement. This includes the issues associated with refusing to follow the safety standard ASME Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy (PVHO), which applies to submarines, and the lack of a Responsible In Charge professional such as a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Naval Architect. These actions appear to be in direct conflict of the laws and regulations (WAC 296-104-200 Construction) of Washington State, where OceanGate was based and the TITAN was fabricated. Stockton Rush and OceanGate took the position that safety was impeding innovation. As a licensed Professional Engineer bound by law as well as professional ethics, coupled with his experience as a member the ASME PVHO code committee, Bart Kemper felt strongly about OceanGate’s choice to not follow the established standard of care created sufficient uncertainty and risk to the public to require he act, which he did by supporting the letter. We recognize and honor David Lochridge and all those at OceanGate who tried to warn and correct the safety issues from within the organization.
When OceanGate’s experimental submersible TITAN went missing on Sunday, June 18 with five people aboard on a mission to view the wreck of the TITANIC, the letter entered public discussion and Bart was publicly named as a signatory. Bart observed a significant amount of incorrect information associated with the missing submersible sufficient to cause misunderstand regarding “experimental submersible” vs. “tourist submarine” as well as damage the public’s understanding of submarine safety. This incorrect information, in turn, would be likely to damage support for related science and research organizations using submersibles. This decision to provide media commentary was amplified by the urgent nature of the search and rescue operations. Licensure law in the United States and Australia, where Bart is registered, requires registrants to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, even above one’s own employment or other self-interest. Just as it had required Bart to step up to offer his name in the letter in 2018, engineering law and ethics also required Bart to join Will and Charles Kohnen in speaking to the public through the media.
Unfortunately, the submersible TITAN was lost with all hands. Our hearts go out to the family and friends grieving these losses. The dangers of underwater activities is at the forefront of our minds when working in this field. Our firm is led by Army veterans with multiple combat tours, including Bart Kemper. We understand the role of risk in planning. This tragic turn of events also brings these activities to a recovery phase with respect to the TITAN and an exploratory phase with respect to related matters such as the role of “experimental” submersibles, submersible rescue, and jurisdictional issues in regulating businesses. There is less exigency for KES to engage in public discussions, therefore KES and their teammates are stepping away from providing commentary to the press to better serve their clients as well as minimize potential impact on possible legal actions or government inquiry.
KES provides engineering design, troubleshooting, and innovation in a wide variety of industries. Our team’s proven techniques have given us success when others could not overcome the challenge. KES will continue to engage in public outreach, particularly matters related to public safety.
Media inquiries: email mediaforKES@kempereng.com
XXX
One of the outcomes of the discussion of the draft letter by the Submarine group of the Marine Technology Society (MTS) to OceanGate was a public discussion of how the TITAN Submersible did not follow codes & standards, nor use 3rd party classification societies, nor have a formal Responsible In Charge such as a Professional Engineer (P.E.), a licensed Naval Architect, or otherwise follow the established standards of care for marine vessels. OceanGate made numerous public statements regarding this deviation from standards of care, to include a post on their own website. The State of Washington Department of Labor & Industries regulations about pressure vessels (WAC 296-104-200 Construction) includes ASME PVHO, which would in turn require a Professional Engineer per ASME code as well as Washington State regulations regarding engineering.
Footage of Bart Kemper, P.E. working with submarines or related systems. Please email mediaforKES@kempereng.com for high resolution images and captions.
Bart Kemper, P.E. is on a live news broadcast, providing subject matter expertise regarding codes & standards and their impact to safety and reliability in submersible design for “Elizabeth Vargas Reports”, and then immediately afterwards was on the air in Australia’ “ABC 730”.
Bart Kemper, company principal engineer, providing live commentary for “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” regarding the tragic events of OceanGate’s submersible TITAN and the loss of life.
KES provided interviews for print, radio, pre-recorded broadcasts, and live discussion regarding public safety issues to over 20 outlets in less than 48 hours during the search and rescue phase of the OceanGate submersible TITAN tragedy.
Recent Comments