[PSUBS-MAILIST] Titan submersible missing at Titanic site

Sat Jun 24 17:08:04 EDT 2023

This has been quite an interesting thread and it's too bad it had to come
from this event that just happened. I am glad that the pot has been
sterred as everyone chipping in about an issue is what makes this group so
effective when building a sub and I wish this happened more often, (not the
disaster).
My wife came up with an interesting comment yesterday as we watched this
all unfold. She said that if a company wants to take thrill seekers deep in
an uncertified and uninsured sub, that company should arrange in advance a
salvage company to hold a retainer up front before the dives, that would be
funded by the rich people that want to take risks, to go looking for them
rather than one or in this case, 4 countries spending millions of
taxpayers dollars to look for them or locate and salvage them.
I am glad that we are all old enough to be able to voice our opinions to or
about each other about our personal feelings and remain friendly. That is
most important with a group like this.

 They are trying to pass a bill here in Hawaii that would make a hiker that
goes on a dangerous trail and is posted as such, pay to be airlifted out on
their dime instead of the taxpayers having to foot the bill which happens
here quite a lot.
I think we all take risks to varying degrees but we all need to know going
into it the possible risks involved, it shouldn't come as a surprise that
especially affects others. Hell, I went up to Canada years ago and jumped
off a bridge before it was legal here in the U.S.with a rubber band tied
around  my ankles for the thrill but in this case, had to trust that they
knew what they were doing and hoped they used a good rubber band!
caveat emptor
Getting ready to weld the back dome on soon and after that I think things
will speed up and the light at the end of the tunnel will be getting much
brighter! Gonna say about three months out????

Rick

On Sat, Jun 24, 2023 at 9:05 AM Gregory Snyder via Personal_Submersibles <
personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:

> The work that Bryan Cox did with cement comes to mind.  Methodical but
> definitely outside the norm.
>
> On Jun 24, 2023, at 12:58 PM, Jon Wallace via Personal_Submersibles <
> personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
> 
> I am sure there will be some effort to restrict private submarine dives on
> the Titanic, but I agree with you and do not foresee a major impact to
> our recreational use of submarines.  This story is already off the front
> page and as you suggest, other world events are going to take the spotlight.
>
> However as you also suggest, we need to remain vigilant and ready to
> defend our hobby from unreasonable government intrusion.  We need to think
> of ourselves as a lobbying entity and act accordingly when necessary.  We
> need to continue to promote building and operating our submarines in
> accordance with accepted industry standards.  We need to be careful with
> our responses when people propose working with exotic or unproven designs
> and materials.  I think supporting innovation is fine if it is performed in
> a methodical and open manner that is open to critique by the group.
>
> Jon
>
>
> On Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 12:54:35 PM EDT, John Bussard via
> Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
>
>
> Excellent discussions all around here.
>
> I think it’s a reasonable assumption that most people participating in
> this endeavor receive some degree of skepticism or shock at the notion of
> taking this on oneself: Bear in mind there’s a difference between PR and
> opinion, and while there is some risk of knee-jerk reaction in the wake of
> these events, two things that I believe keep us insulated
>
> 1) The incredibly short memory of the general media-consuming public.
> Willing to bet a cold beverage of one’s choosing that in another week or
> so, deep sea design criteria will not be on anyone’s radar.  There’s
> already some craziness in Russia, give that another day or two and tack on
> a vocal and reactionary personal attack from opposing political
> perspectives on a topic of your choice, and the interest will fade.
>
> 2) The lack of potential impact.  Generally one’s errors have impacts on
> others, and that’s what generally drives greater outrage, and stamina for
> that outrage.  Any threats to general aviation (As a risky, technically
> demanding parallel) generally occur when "public safety” is invoked.
> However, see topic #1 and consider the last time there has been a
> restriction based on that safety demand. (By now the biggest threat gen av
> faces is in the form of environmentally based arguments.)  The impacts in
> submersible operations are remarkably insular.  (Any public outrage will
> also be tempered in the Titan instance by the belief that wealthy people
> deserve anything they have coming.)  Yes the SAR bill is a large one, and I
> believe that will become the overriding sentiment in discussions on the
> matter.
>
> The two points lead me to believe that this event poses little threat to
> the majority of PSubs membership.  But it’s certainly worth being prepared
> in the event transport regulation does turn a large eye towards the group.
>
> Has there been any similar turn in the past?  Do folks here believe
> holding up ABS (or similar) criteria will be sufficient?
>
> John
>
>
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