Nearly a Year After Titan Disaster, Larry Connor Embarks on an Ambitious Underwater Journey
Ohio Real Estate Mogul Teams Up with Triton Submarines for Titanic Mission
Nearly a year after the catastrophic Titan submersible implosion, Ohio-based real estate billionaire Larry Connor is set to embark on a daring underwater expedition to the Titanic shipwreck. The mission aims to demonstrate that deep-sea exploration can be conducted safely. Connor, alongside Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey, plans to descend over 12,400 feet to the historic wreck site, according to a report in the New York Post.
In a candid interview with The Wall Street Journal, Connor emphasized the potential for safe and transformative underwater exploration. “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,” he stated.
Innovative submersible to lead the way
Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer: A $20 Million Technological Marvel
Connor and Lahey will undertake their voyage in the state-of-the-art Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, a submersible specifically designed for such depths. The $20 million vessel, aptly named “4000” for its 4,000-meter dive capacity, represents a breakthrough in deep-sea technology. “Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade. But we didn’t have the materials and technology. You couldn’t have built this sub five years ago,” Connor noted.
Commitment to safety and innovation
Building a Safer Future for Deep-Sea Exploration
In the aftermath of the Titan tragedy, Lahey revealed that Connor contacted him with a clear vision: to create a submersible capable of safely reaching Titanic-level depths. “You know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to those depths repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption,” Lahey recounted.
Connor’s mission comes in the wake of widespread industry criticism of OceanGate’s safety standards, both before and after the Titan disaster. Lahey has been vocal about his concerns, describing OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush’s approach as “quite predatory.”
The Titan disaster claimed the lives of British explorer Hamish Harding, French submarine expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani-British tycoon Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. The passengers had signed waivers labeling the vessel as “experimental” and acknowledging numerous potential risks, according to Business Insider.
Recovery and moving forward
Remains and Wreckage Recovery
Following the tragedy, presumed human remains and mangled debris from the Titan were recovered off the coast of Newfoundland. The operation brought closure to a grueling search-and-recovery mission. A debris field was discovered 1,600 feet from the Titanic’s bow, more than two miles below the ocean’s surface.
Future prospects
While Connor has not announced a specific date for the Titanic expedition, his determination to prove the viability and safety of deep-sea exploration remains unwavering. The upcoming mission promises to be a significant step towards restoring confidence in underwater expeditions and honoring the memory of those lost in the Titan tragedy.