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In an ambitious endeavor aimed at proving the safety of oceanic exploration, a billionaire will pilot a two-person submersible to the Titanic’s resting place, defying the shadow cast by the deadly Titan tragedy.
Following an incident in June where five individuals lost their lives due to a Titan submersible implosion built by OceanGate, Larry Connor, an entrepreneur from Ohio, is determined to restore the image of deep-sea exploration.
Connor remarked, “I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life changing if you go about it the right way,” in a discussion with The Wall Street Journal.
He has partnered with Patrick Lahey of Triton Submarines, a seasoned submersible operator and the company’s co-founder and CEO.
The specialized Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer will be used for the deep-sea exploration. Pic: The Connor Group
Connor explains, “Patrick has been pondering this venture and designing for over a decade. But we required appropriate materials and technology,” adding that construction of such a sub was impossible five years back.
The voyage is scheduled with the $20m (£15.65m) Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, which can dive 4,000 meters, around 200 meters deeper than the Titanic’s 3,800m underwater grave.
Depiction of the embarkation. Pic: The Connor Group
Lahey recalls the aftermath of the tragedy. A call from Connor proposing the construct of a sub capable of safely reaching Titanic-like depths followed a few scant days post the catastrophic implosion.
“It would demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was merely an aberration,” he reported the investor’s confidence.
Those associated with this project stress the importance of having submersibles that are ‘classed’, as opposed to ‘unclassed’, with significant implications on safety and adherence to regulations.
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The Titan submersible involved in the June 2021 incident. File photo: OceanGate Expeditions via AP.
Reflecting the emotional toll, Lahey recounts his feelings over the loss of his comrade Paul-Henri Nargeolet, known fondly as PH, a deep-sea explorer who perished on the Titan. “The fact PH was onboard is still incomprehensible,” Lahey confessed to WSJ.
Craig Barnett, Director of Sales at Triton, outlined the company’s solid track record and the impact of the OceanGate incident on the industry. Triton delivered 18 submersibles over the past 15 years, five in the last three, and had 15 ongoing projects at the time of the tragic event. He mentioned that a $4 million custom-built sub for a family yacht order was immediately canceled in the aftermath.
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FAQ Section:
- Who is planning the trip to the Titanic’s depths?
- Larry Connor, an Ohio real estate billionaire, has announced a plan to take a two-person submersible down to the site of the Titanic.
- What is the Titan submersible?
- The Titan submersible was built by OceanGate, and it encountered a catastrophic implosion in June, resulting in the death of five people.
- What is the purpose of the planned voyage?
- The purpose is to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of deep-sea exploration to the public, after the incident involving the Titan.
- How deep can the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer dive?
- The Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer is designed to dive to depths of 4,000 meters, roughly 200 meters deeper than the Titanic’s wreck site.
- What are ‘classed’ submersibles?
- ‘Classed’ submersibles are those that have been certified as safe and regulation-compliant by a third-party maritime-classification society.
