An Ohio billionaire is preparing to launch a voyage to the wreckage of the Titanic buried deep under the sea, less than a year after the Titan submersible catastrophically imploded on its descent to the infamous icon, killing five passengers on board.
Larry Connor, a real estate and tech entrepreneur, and explorer who has been to the International Space Station and down to the deepest parts of the ocean, is the mind behind the voyage.
He’s working with Triton Submarines to build a new submersible to travel down to the Titanic’s tomb in a bid to renew confidence in deep sea exploration.
“This was a terrible disaster but in our opinion an avoidable one,” Connor said. “If done correctly, we can demonstrate worldwide that this type of exploration in submersible is safe.”
The Titan submersible built by Seattle-based company OceanGate imploded on its Titanic voyage last June, instantly killing its CEO Stockton Rush and four other passengers on board.
The company was heavily criticized over its lack of testing and use of experimental materials, including its carbon fiber composite hull. One month later, Ocean Gate suspended its operations. Investigations are still underway into the fatal disaster.
That voyage down to the wreck is a perilous one as it’s located roughly 13,000 feet under sea level where water pressure is hundreds of times greater than the surface.
“These can be dangerous conditions,” Connor said. “We are going to go through multiple steps, multiple certifications, to ensure that this vessel and, specifically the hull is safe and sound.”
art Kemper, a mechanical engineer who was among those who expressed concern over OceanGate prior to the Titan implosion, says he trusts Triton Submarines. (NBC NEWS)
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