OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush had ambitious plans to take rock band Pearl Jam to the Titanic wreckage site before the tragic submersible disaster. A new Netflix documentary reported by Loudwire revealed this information.
Videographer Joseph Assi was recruited by Rush to document the expeditions. He shared details about the company’s promotional strategies and unconventional ideas.
“They needed more exposure, that’s why we came along,” Assi said in the documentary. “The sub they were making was very basic, so the idea was — ‘Make us videos so we can catch the attention of people.'”
Assi further revealed the extent of Rush’s ambitious plans for the submersible venture.
“They had wild ideas, like they want to take Pearl Jam in the submarine, or he talked about some floating city that could also submerge,” he continued.
These promotional strategies reflected Rush’s broader understanding of what would capture public attention and generate interest in deep-sea exploration ventures.
Rush’s focus on the Titanic was strategic. He recognized the unique appeal of the world’s most famous shipwreck. Screen Rant reported that Rush had previously noted that traveling to the Titanic would allow for sonar and laser scanning, capturing photogrammetric images, and drawing significant public interest because “there’s only one wreck that everyone knows.”
The 2023 expedition that ended in tragedy was conducted during particularly challenging conditions. PR Web noted that OceanGate had chartered a former Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, MV Polar Prince, for their expedition. They were navigating through iceberg-filled waters during the North Atlantic’s iceberg season.
Interest in Titanic exploration continues despite the tragic outcome of the OceanGate mission. ABC News revealed that other explorers are now planning new expeditions to the Titanic site. Some aim to prove that deep-sea exploration can be done safely following proper protocols.
The comments were featured in Netflix’s new documentary “Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster.” The documentary examines the events leading up to the tragic implosion that killed Rush and four others in June 2023.
