Following OceanGate’s fatal implosion, an Ohio billionaire is planning a $20 million submersible to the Titanic wreck.
Patrick Lahey is the co-founder and CEO of Triton Submarines. Patrick’s client, real-estate investor Larry Connor, requested he make a submersible that could withstand the depths of and journey to the Titanic.
“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,’” Lahey told WSJ.
This request came just after OceanGate’s devastating implosion, which killed all five passengers.
After his conversation with Connor, Lahey constructed the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, a $20 million two-person vessel. Allegedly, the submersible is specifically designed to withstand repeated trips and depths of around 4,000 meters. For reference, the Titanic is about 3,800 meters deep.
Connor told WSJ that Lahey “has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade.”
“But we didn’t have the materials and technology,” he said. “You couldn’t have built this sub five years ago.”
Internet Roasts Billionaire Planning to Take $20M Sub to Titanic Wreck After OceanGate Tragedy
Connor added that he isn’t afraid of the ocean, no matter how deep he might venture. In fact, he already dived down to the Mariana Trench, the deepest oceanic trench on Earth.
“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,” Connor told WSJ.
However, while Connor and Lahey are planning this pursuit together, Lahey recognizes that not many people will support the decision — especially after the recent OceanGate disaster.
“This tragedy had a chilling effect on people’s interest in these vehicles,” he said. “It reignited old myths that only a crazy person would dive in one of these things.”
He’s not wrong, seeing as X (previously Twitter) is filled with jokes and statements about this potential second attempt at exploring Titanic.
“There’s gotta be an easier way to get rid of billionaires but this is certainly the most dramatic way,” one user wrote. “PLACE YA BETS!!! PLACE YA BETS!!” another said.
“Find someone who looks at you the way weird billionaires look at the Titanic,” a third roaster added.
“Yall just keep playing with god huh?” one person wrote. “Is it really worth risking more lives to explore the Titanic site?? Come on!!!” another added.
Even so, Lahey persists that his subversive is much more durable, safer, and up to code.