Ohio real estate mogul Larry Connor is gearing up for an extraordinary journey into the depths of the ocean to demonstrate the safety of deep-sea exploration. This endeavor follows a tragic incident involving the OceanGate vessel last year.
Teaming up with Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, Connor intends to descend over 12,400 feet to the Titanic shipwreck site in a two-person submersible. The mission’s goal is to reassure the public that ocean exploration can be both safe and awe-inspiring.
The centerpiece of this project is the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, a $20 million vessel engineered by Lahey for repeated deep-sea expeditions. Connor expressed full confidence in the vessel’s capabilities, underscoring Lahey’s decade-long dedication to its design and the technological advancements that have made it possible.
This initiative follows the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible last June, which claimed the lives of all five crew members, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.
In response to this tragedy, Connor approached Lahey with a vision of creating a submersible capable of safely navigating the depths of the ocean, particularly at Titanic-level depths, while showcasing the shortcomings of previous vessels.
Critics within the deep-sea exploration industry have voiced concerns about OceanGate’s safety practices, with Lahey himself describing Rush’s approach as “quite predatory.”
Issues related to certification through reputable safety organizations like the American Bureau of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas have also been highlighted, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety standards in the industry.
Although the exact timing of the expedition remains undisclosed, Connor’s ambitious venture signifies a significant step towards redefining safety protocols and reinstating confidence in deep-sea exploration endeavors.