Larry Connor, a real estate mogul, intends to embark on the same journey that the five men aboard the Titan sub took last year.
A wealthy American is preparing for a journey to the location where the Titanic sank using a deep-sea submersible after the OceanGate incident in the previous year.
Larry Connor, an Ohio real estate mogul, intends to embark on the ill-fated journey that claimed the lives of the five individuals aboard the Titan submarine in June of the previous year.
OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, aged 61, British billionaire Hamish Harding, aged 58, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, aged 77, British-Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, aged 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman tragically lost their lives.
OceanGate, Rush's company for underwater exploration, faced significant worry about the design of their submersible. Many individuals cautioned him that it could be dangerous and a potential disaster in the making.
The Titan experienced a devastating collapse due to immense water pressure and faulty materials during the team's descent, resulting in the loss of all passengers and causing a global shock.
Connor, 74, eagerly anticipates exploring the infamous Titanic wreckage, despite others' reluctance to go near a submersible. The wreckage rests 12,400ft deep in the Atlantic Ocean.
Teaming up with Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey, he is embarking on a daring mission. They will venture into the depths of the ocean in a remarkable $20 million two-person submersible called the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer.
Larry Connor seen ahead of his dive in a submersible down to Mariana Trench (YouTube/The Connor Group)
The 4000 indicates that it can dive to depths of 4000m, which is deeper than the Titanic's 3800m.
Businessman Connor, a private astronaut certified by NASA, believes the spacecraft can make multiple long journeys and thinks they have gained valuable insights from OceanGate's errors.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the real estate tycoon shared his thoughts on the purpose of the journey: “I aim to demonstrate to people all around the globe that although the ocean possesses immense strength, it can also offer incredible joy and transformative experiences if approached correctly.”
Patrick has spent more than ten years contemplating and creating this. However, we lacked the necessary materials and technology.
This submarine couldn't have been constructed five years ago.
The duo hope to prove that you can enjoy a safe journey on a submersible, unlike the Titan sub (OceanGate/Becky Kagan Schott)
Connor disclosed that their ambitious project made significant progress shortly after the unfortunate incident involving the Titan submarine. He contacted his partner, Lahey, and proposed the idea of constructing an improved submersible that could withstand the journey.
The duo aims to demonstrate that exploring the Titanic wreckage in a submersible can be successful and safe.
Lahey, the head of Triton Submarines, mentioned that his billionaire friend inspired him to create a submarine that can reach Titanic-level depths multiple times while showcasing his company's capabilities to the world.
The duo likened the failed OceanGate submersible to a ‘contraption'.
The property tycoon has teamed up with Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey again (YouTube/The Connor Group)
Lahey, the first person to dive the Challenger Deep twice with another explorer, has also done the world's deepest salvage operation at 10,927 meters in the Mariana Trench with Connor.
He was among the critics in the underwater industry who expressed concerns about Rush's ship and safety measures, calling the engineer ‘rather aggressive' in his methods.
Connor and Lahey didn't mention a specific date for their trip to the Titanic wreckage, but you can be sure that everyone will be watching if it happens.
Featured Image Credit: PA Media
