The company’s website has since been removed but the advertisement can still be accessed through the WayBack Machine archive.
OceanGate Expeditions listed a job posting for a submersible pilot on its website while a multi-million-dollar international rescue mission was underway to locate the five passengers onboard the ill-fated Titan bound for the Titanic wreckage. This fanatic search drew to a devastating close on Thursday after debris from the vessel was found on the ocean floor.
On Friday, social media was abuzz after screenshots of the ad were widely circulated. The ad had been posted prior to the Coast Guard’s announcement on Thursday, revealing that all five individuals aboard the Titan had tragically lost their lives after the sub suffered a “catastrophic implosion” on Sunday itself.
Playing With People’s Lives
OceanGate posted the ad highlighting that it was looking for a “Submersible Pilot/Marine Technician” who would “help manage and operate our fleet of manned submersibles and support vessels,” according to a New York Post report.
“We are looking for a committed and competent individual with combination of strong mechanical and interpersonal skills who can work on sensitive marine equipment, perform regular maintenance and operate complex systems to support dive operations,” the ad stated.
The ad prompted a flurry of macabre jokes on social media, with one person joking, “I can’t work under that kind of pressure.”
“Can I apply with gaming experience and absolutely no will to live?” wrote another — making apparent allusion to rumors that OceanGate piloted the Titan submersible with a $50 gaming controller.
“Heard they have some openings in upper management as well,” wrote another.
The company’s website has since been removed but the advertisement can still be accessed through the WayBack Machine archive.
Reports indicate that the company’s main offices in Washington State have been closed indefinitely.
