Descendants of people who lost their lives aboard the Titanic in 1912 have expressed their dismay over tourist trips to the shipwreck site, such as the OceanGate Titan submersible’s outings, calling them “disgusting” and disrespectful.
The family members of the victims contend that the shipwreck, the final resting place for the 1,496 souls who perished on the Titanic, should be seen as a sacred underwater site rather than a venue for adrenaline-fueled adventures. John LoCascio, who lost his uncles in the Titanic disaster, reproached OceanGate for turning a profit from visits to the revered site, describing it as disgraceful. “What are you there for, to gawk?”, LoCascio asked those interested in the tours. Along with other relatives, he urged the cessation of such tours, stressing the need to honor the final resting place of their relatives.
OceanGate recently faced its own crisis when its vessel, the Titan, disappeared with five people aboard, prompting a frantic search as the sub’s oxygen supply was running low. Debris from the Titan was located on June 22, and it’s assumed the occupants perished due to the vessel’s implosion. Relatives of the Titanic’s passengers are puzzled by the appeal of such risky expeditions, describing it as a tragedy and questioning why anyone would fork over $250,000 for the dangerous experience.
Some relatives of the Titanic victims, such as Brett Gladstone and T. Sean Maher, proposed that if these visits are to continue, they should be strictly controlled and undertaken with solemnity and respect. Shelley Binder, a descendant of a Titanic survivor, argued for a study of the wreckage for research purposes, rather than promoting mere sightseeing.
