As news broke on Thursday about the discovery of the wreckage of the Titan submarine, cinematographer James Neihouse reflected on his friendship with billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding. Neihouse and Harding first met during the production of the 2020 documentary “One More Orbit,” which followed former NASA astronaut Col. Terry Virts and a team attempting to break the ’round-the-world speed record for an aircraft, while also commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Harding served as a mission director and the executive producer of the documentary, playing a crucial role in logistics and securing the Gulfstream G650 ER jet used for the record-breaking endeavor.
Neihouse described Harding as “one of the driving forces” behind the project and expressed his deep sadness over Harding’s loss. He remembered his friend as a family man and an adventurous explorer, having traveled to the South Pole, space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, and the Mariana Trench’s Challenger Deep during a 2021 dive in another submarine. Neihouse noted that Harding was an accomplished pilot with a keen understanding of risk assessment.
In addition to their previous collaboration, Neihouse shared that he and Harding had discussed making more documentaries in the future. They had not specifically talked about Titanic as a subject, but Neihouse revealed that he had previously been involved in discussions to film a documentary about Titanic in the ’90s. Unfortunately, the project fell through due to funding issues. However, Neihouse gained valuable knowledge about the vessels used for deep-sea exploration during his research.
Reflecting on the tragedy that occurred this week, Neihouse emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures when exploring depths such as those where the Titan submarine sank. He recognized the importance of analyzing the incident and the recovered debris to understand what caused the catastrophic failure. Neihouse also stressed the necessity of more stringent regulations for vehicles used in deep-sea exploration, especially those marketed to the general public.
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Renowned filmmaker and deep-sea explorer James Cameron echoed Neihouse’s concerns about the safety of the Titan submarine. In recent interviews, Cameron drew parallels between the sinking of the Titanic and the recent tragedy. He revealed that some members of the exploration community had expressed concerns to the company about the experimental nature of the sub and the need for certification. Cameron likened the situation to the Titanic disaster, where the captain ignored warnings about ice and tragedy struck. He found the similarity between the two incidents astonishing and surreal.
In conclusion, the discovery of the Titan wreckage and the lives lost in the tragedy have deeply impacted those who knew the individuals involved. James Neihouse remembered Hamish Harding as a dear friend and an integral part of their previous documentary project. He called for increased safety precautions and stricter regulations for deep-sea exploration vehicles to prevent similar tragedies in the future. James Cameron also raised concerns about the experimental nature of the sub and highlighted the parallels with the Titanic disaster. As the investigation into the incident continues, the hope is that valuable lessons will be learned, and measures will be implemented to prevent such accidents from happening again.
