After OceanGate implosion, US billionaire plans expedition to Titanic in submersible

Almost a year after the tragic OceanGate Titan submersible imploded in the sea and killed all the passengers stranded within it, another US businessman is making plans for a similar expedition.

Ohio businessman and billionaire Larry Connor, while speaking to The Wall Street Journallast week, spoke in detail about how he wished to prove that people can safely dive to the Titanic wreckage site when proper engineering is employed.

After the news came in about Titan's suspected implosion in June 2023, Connor dialled up Triton Submarine's CEO Patrick Lahey who had criticised the safety practices of OceanGate publicly and called its CEO "predatory". He also emphasised that they can make something better.

“[Connor 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,’” said Lahey, while speaking to The Wall Street Journal.

Also Read:One window, no seats, frigid temps: Inside the Titanic tourism submersible

Connor and Lahey are planning to take a sub at a depth of nearly 3,800m (12,467ft) to witness the shipwreck sitting on the bed of the North Atlantic Ocean.

“I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way," said Connor.

A spokesperson for Connor’s company on Tuesday (May 28) said that the proposed voyage will only happen after the vessel is fully certified by a marine organisation. However, no timeframe has been decided for the planned expedition.

Who is Larry Connor?

Larry Connoris the founder ofThe Connor Group and an entrepreneur. The Connor Group is a luxury real estate company which is located in Dayton, Ohio.

According to Forbes, Connor's net worth is$2 billion, while the real estate portfolio of Connor Group is worth $5 billion.

Connor is an explorer who has earlier voyaged to theMariana Trench and International Space Station.

Watch:Titan Submersible found in pieces after imploding in North Atlantic

What had happened to Titan submersible?

Five people, who were onboard an OceanGate submersible, died after the vessel imploded en route to the Titanic.

OceanGate had built the Titan submersible using carbon fibre and it was certified to dive only to 1,300m, which is much less than the depthof the ocean floor of the Titanic wreckage site.

Those killed in the implosion included OceanGate Expeditions CEOStockton Rush, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, British businessman Hamish Harding, 58, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77, a former French navy diver.

(With inputs from agencies)