The company that developed and operated the doomed Titan submersible asked its employees to forego paychecks as it faced economic challenges, according to witnesses testifying before the US Coast Guard body probing the vessel’s deadly implosion last year.

The co-founder of a company whose experimental submersible imploded while diving into the deep sea to view the sunk Titanic said he hopes silver linings can be found in the tragedy that cost five people their lives.