Another billionaire wants to see the wreck of the Titanic with a submersible

An American billionaire, Larry Connorplans an underwater expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic using a new submersible.

Mr. Conner is part of a community of fortunate explorers. He has already been to the deep sea and into space.

Remember that the Titan, a submersible from the company OceanGate, imploded during a dive towards the Titanic on June 18, 2023. The accident cost the lives of all five people on board. It was an exceptional case, according to Mr. Connorwhich intends to use proven exploration methods.

I worry that people associate diving submarines, especially new or different submarines, with danger or tragedyaffirms Larry Connorcited by the New York Times.

If we can’t do it safely and successfully, we’re just not going to do it. We are not looking for thrills. We are not big risk takershe adds.

Larry Connor joined forces with Patrick Laheyco-founder of the company Triton Submarines, who will build a submersible for this expedition. The submersible could cost tens of millions of dollars. Its builders do not believe it will be ready before at least summer 2026.

It was not possible to have an interview with Larry Connor nor with Patrick Lahey.

The company Triton Submarines is recognized as a leader in its field. Its submersibles reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest place in the world, more than 10,900 meters below sea level. The Titanic rests at a depth of 3,800 meters.

THE CEO ofOceanGate, Stockton Rushhad publicly criticized the idea of ​​obtaining third-party certification and classification.

Two completely different expeditions, according to an expert

The Newfoundland diver Larry Daley, who saw the Titanic up close in 2003, was a great friend of one of the Titan’s passengers, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet. He judges that Mr. Connor did well to associate with Mr. Lahey.

Triton Submarines]has set the bar so high that it makes no compromises when it comes to safety. Everything she does is well designed, very ingenious. She has expertise and financial backing, and she doesn’t do things in a hurry”,”text”:”[Triton Submarines] has set the bar so high that it makes no compromises when it comes to safety. Everything she does is well designed, very ingenious. She has expertise and financial backing, and she doesn’t do things in a hurry”}}”>[Triton Submarines] has set the bar so high that it makes no compromises when it comes to safety. Everything she does is well designed, very ingenious. She has expertise and financial backing, and she doesn’t do things in a hurryexplain Larry Daley.

You’re not dealing with people who take shortcutshe adds.

Larry Daley has met Patrick Lahey in Saint-Jean in 2019. Triton Submarines then carried out dives in the five deepest places in the world. Paul-Henri Nargeolet was part of this team as a technical advisor.

The next submersible

OceanGate stood out because it had dispensed with titanium, an industry standard material. Instead, it used carbon fiber to construct the Titan’s hull.

Triton Submarines plans to use acrylic to build the hull of his own submersible. Larry Connor said to New York Times that its submersible will be certified by an independent organization, unlike that ofOceanGateand that this process can take two to three years.

Stockton Rush said that certification harmed innovation, but Patrick Lahey argues the opposite.

I disagree with the idea that certification is any barrier to innovation or progressive thinking. This is absolutely false. I just think it’s just a cop-outsaid Patrick Lahey during an interview earlier this year.

Larry Daley hopes that the next expedition will be launched from Saint-Jean and that all explorers who go to the site of the Titanic will act with respect because, he says, it remains a marine cemetery.

According to a report from Ryan Cookeof CBC