When the OceanGate-built Titan submersible had a disastrous implosion in June, five people died.
After the fatalities, real estate mogul Larry Connor of Ohio is now trying to repair the industry’s reputation.
“I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful, enjoyable, and really life-changing if you go about it the right way,” he told the Wall Street Journal.
He has joined forces with Patrick Lahey, co-founder and CEO of Triton Submarines and one of the most seasoned submersible operators in the world.
Mr. Lahey claimed that shortly after the fatal implosion, Mr. Connor gave him a call.
“We had a client, a wonderful man,” Mr. Lahey said to the Wall Street Journal.
“He called me up and said, ‘You know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to [Titanic-level depths] repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption.'”
The project’s proponents are eager to highlight the distinction between submersibles that are classified and those that are not.
Third-party maritime-classification societies are used by Triton and other leading manufacturers to guarantee that their vessels are classed, which indicates that they are safe and comply with all laws.
