An Ohio billionaire is preparing to launch a voyage to the Titanic wreckage buried deep beneath the sea – less than a year after the submersible Titan catastrophically imploded while descending into the infamous icon, killing five passengers on board.
Larry Connor, a real estate and technology entrepreneur and explorer who has been to the International Space Station and descended to the deepest parts of the ocean, is the mind behind the trip.
He is working with Triton Submarines to build a new submersible to travel to the Titanic’s tomb, in a bid to renew confidence in deep-sea exploration.
“This was a terrible disaster, but in our opinion it was preventable,” Connor said of the OceanGate disaster last June in an interview with NBC’s “TODAY” show that aired Friday morning. in a submersible it is safe.”
The Titan submersible built by Seattle-based company OceanGate imploded on its voyage to the Titanic last June, instantly killing its CEO Stockton Rush and four other passengers on board. The company has been heavily criticized for its lack of testing and use of experimental materials, including its carbon fiber composite hull. A month later, Ocean Gate suspended its operations. Investigations are still ongoing into the fatal crash.
This trip to the wreck is dangerous as it is located around 4,300 meters below sea level, where the water pressure is hundreds of times greater than that at the surface.
“These can be dangerous conditions. We will go through several steps, multiple certifications, to ensure that this vessel and specifically the hull are safe and sound,” said Connor.
Bart Kemper, a mechanical engineer who was among those who expressed concern about OceanGate before Titan implosion, says he trusts the Triton Submarines.
“The big difference here is that we are using proven technology that is still innovative, but done right,” he explained.
When asked if he would participate in the mission, he said, “Oh yes, in a heartbeat. Sign me up.”
Connor emphasized that safety will make the biggest difference with this new submersible – an effort to ease fears and concerns about deep-sea travel. He said the project will not be rushed and will be DNV certified (something OceanGate did not have), which is done by one of the world’s leading certification bodies, based in the Netherlands.
“If you’re asking, are we confident we can do this safely? The answer is yes,” he said.
The new estimated $13 to $15 million submersible — which will be called The Explorer — is still being built with the goal of beginning research dives by the summer of 2026. Connor plans for the research dives to be conducted with two pilots, he and his colleague from Triton Submarines. -founder and CEO Patrick Lahey.
However, if any safety concerns are raised, that date will be changed or the project will be scrapped entirely, Connor said.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
