While the implosion scenario seems increasingly likely, the President of Technical Wreck Divers of Quebec believes the event is dramatic but not surprising.
• Also read: The five passengers of the submersible lost in the Atlantic are dead
• Also read: The likely implosion of the submersible was discovered by the US Navy on Sunday
• Also read: He is “terrified” at the thought of going to the sub and dies in the implosion at the age of 19
In an interview with TVA Nouvelles, Sébastien Pelletier described how the crew of the Titan submersible likely lost their lives, according to information released on Thursday.
According to the expert, the rupture of the structure must have started during the descent, when the pressure increased significantly.
“This is the case when the hull of the submersible is subjected to an increase in external stresses and the slightest flaw, the smallest defective part, a tear… leads to a major flooding and of course an implosion,” explains Mr. Pelletier.
The debris, found at a depth of 3800 meters, suggests that Titan was subjected to a pressure 380 times that of Earth’s atmosphere.
“It’s colossal. We are talking about several hundred kilos per cm2. So when such a drastic change in pressure occurs, it happens within a few thousandths or hundredths of a second. It’s extremely fast,” says Sébastien Pelletier.
“That’s the good thing about it. “We now know that the crew did not suffer,” he adds, regretting the deaths of the five passengers.
A fragile structure?
Sébastien Pelletier also wonders about the sub’s construction, which is made of carbon fiber instead of steel. According to the expert, when it comes to underwater exploration, it would be good to rely on safe and certified equipment.
“The most important lesson is: the sea has the last word and it is an unforgiving environment. You don’t have to compromise. “We will definitely lose,” he said.
To see the full interview, watch the video above.