Breaking News: Ohio billionaire Larry Connor plans to take $20M sub to Titanic site to prove industry’s safer after OceanGate implosion

Ohio billionaire Larry Connor is planning to take a deep-sea submersible to the Titanic wreckage site to demonstrate the safety of the industry in the wake of the OceanGate implosion. Connor, a real estate investor and amateur adventurer, contacted Patrick Lahey, the co-founder of Triton Submarines, to build a new submersible capable of diving to Titanic-level depths repeatedly and safely. This move comes almost a year after the OceanGate Titan submersible disaster, which claimed the lives of five people, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.

The new submersible, dubbed the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, is designed for repeated trips to the deep ocean at a depth of about 4,000 meters, deeper than the Titanic’s 3,800-meter depth. It is made from new materials and technology that were previously unavailable. Connor, who is no stranger to unique explorations, having visited the Mariana Trench and the International Space Station, aims to show that a dive to the Titanic wreckage site can be done safely when proper engineering is employed.

The Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer is advertised as the “world’s deepest diving acrylic sub,” boasting the ability to descend over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). Connor and Lahey plan to make the journey to the Titanic wreck site to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the submersible. Connor has expressed his desire to show that while the ocean is powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable if approached correctly.

The OceanGate Titan submersible disaster occurred on June 18, 2023, during its third annual voyage to the Titanic wreckage site. The submersible was not up to the task and imploded on its way down to the ocean floor, killing all five passengers. The incident raised concerns about the safety of deep-sea exploration and the need for more rigorous safety standards in the industry.

Connor’s planned expedition aims to address these concerns and restore confidence in deep-sea exploration. He and Lahey plan to dive to the Titanic wreck site to demonstrate that with the right technology and engineering, such expeditions can be conducted safely and without disaster.