Triton Submarines CEO, Patrick Lahey, confirmed the company is developing a submarine capable of descending nearly 4,000 m. “This is a historic project with unique engineering challenges,” Lahey said. A source from the New York Post revealed a billionaire will participate in a dive in the coming weeks at a cost of approximately 10 million USD.
The legendary ship rests approximately 3,800 m below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean and has been off-limits since the 2023 tragedy.
The US Coast Guard also recently completed its 250-page investigative report on the Titan implosion. In 6/2023, OceanGate’s Titan submersible imploded during its descent to the Atlantic seabed, killing all 5 people on board. The victims included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French submersible expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood.
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Sketch of the two-seater Triton Explorer submarine. Photo: New York Post |
Sketch of the two-seater Triton Explorer submarine. Photo: New York Post
The National Transportation Safety Board cited OceanGate’s “violation of safety, testing, and maintenance engineering principles” as the primary cause of the tragedy. CEO Stockton Rush allegedly bypassed numerous mandatory checks due to a lack of independent oversight. The report also highlighted a "weak safety culture" and the company's overstating of the Titan's capabilities, creating a "false sense of security" for passengers.
The board concluded that the lack of external oversight and experienced personnel allowed Rush to disregard critical procedures, leading to the disaster. Investigators emphasized the need for stricter regulations on future deep-sea exploration activities.
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The Titanic wreckage. Photo: Reuters |
The Titanic wreckage. Photo: Reuters
To avoid repeating OceanGate’s mistakes, the upcoming dive will utilize the 20 million USD submarine developed by Triton Submarines, adhering strictly to international safety standards. Lahey stated the submarine could be completed and operational next year.
Currently, most submersibles capable of reaching the Titanic wreckage belong to navies or research organizations. A private company developing a commercially viable submarine that meets these standards demonstrates the potential of deep-sea tourism if safety is prioritized.
However, risks remain. Victor Vescovo, a former US Navy captain and deep-sea explorer who piloted the Limiting Factor submersible to the Titanic, called it "the most dangerous dive ever undertaken.”
“That area has countless cables and debris. The closer you want to get for observation, the more dangerous it becomes,” Vescovo warned.
Hoai Anh (From New York Post)
