Latest news with #PatrickLahey
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Billionaire's secret Titanic mission ‘is IMMINENT' 2yrs on from Titan disaster as builder of new ‘Triton' sub speaks out
Rumours are flying around ocean exploration circles that a fresh trip is imminent INTO THE DEPTHS Billionaire's secret Titanic mission 'is IMMINENT' 2yrs on from Titan disaster as builder of new 'Triton' sub speaks out ANOTHER billionaire is rumoured to be plotting a secretive underwater mission to wreck of the Titanic two years on from the Titan disaster. The world watched in horror back in 2023 as a frantic rescue mission uncovered the tragic end of the Titan vessel and its five passengers. 7 The world watched in horror back in 2023 as a frantic rescue mission uncovered the tragic end of the Titan vessel Credit: AFP 7 Larry Connor and Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey are reported to be considering a trip Credit: Triton Submarines Advertisement 7 Triton Submarines are reportedly building a new submersible that could handle the 12,500ft depths Credit: Triton Submarines 7 Voyaging to the bottom of the ocean is fraught with potential hazards, as the devastating incident laid bare. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush was among the five who died when the submersible imploded near the wreck of the Titanic. Advertisement A recent damning report set out the catalogue of fatal failures that led to the disaster. But despite the risks, another wealthy enthusiast is expected to attempt the deep sea voyage in the near future. While rumours are flying around ocean exploration circles that a fresh trip is imminent, the details are tightly under wraps. One knowledgeable source told The New York Post: "I heard that somebody is going down to the Titanic in a couple weeks. Advertisement "What I can tell you is that it's a billionaire. "Going down there will cost $10 million. You would recognise his name." The source added that they don't want to ruin the surprise the billionaire is believed to have in mind. "He'll want to make an announcement that he is the first person to go to the Titanic since the tragedy," they said. Moment infamous Titan sub is plunged into darkness at the bottom of the ocean floor in terrifying test dive before it imploded near Titanic shipwreck While the identity of the mystery explorer remains unknown, there has been no shortage of interest in such a voyage among billionaires. Advertisement Trips to the bottom of the ocean cost vast sums of money, meaning it is only realistically open to those with the deepest pockets. The late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Wall Street magnate Ray Dalio, and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich are among those believed to have owned submersibles, according to The New York Post. But the BBC reported in May last year that businessman Larry Connor and Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey were plotting a journey. Lahey is reportedly building a new submersible that could handle the 12,500ft depths. He told The New York Post: "Besides it being a wreck of historical significance, the fact that it lies at such great depth makes it fascinating to visit. Advertisement "Titanic is a wreck that's covered in marine life and soft coral. "People want to go there for the same reason that they want to climb Mount Everest." An investigation into the Titan disaster released by the US Coast Guard found the tragedy was "preventable" and driven by "critically flawed" practices. The report stated: "For several years preceding the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favourable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny. "By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion… OceanGate was ultimately able to operate Titan completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols." Advertisement The submersible, which was owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, imploded on June 18, 2023 while en route to the Titanic site. All five people on board were killed instantly under the extreme pressure. Investigators added that, had Stockton Rush survived, they would have recommended the Department of Justice consider a criminal probe. How the Titan tragedy unfolded By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) FIVE men plunged beneath the surface of the North Atlantic in a homemade sub in a bid to explore the Titanic wreckage. Four passengers paid £195,000 each to go on the sub, with the fifth member of the trip being a crew member. But what was supposed to be a short trip spiralled into days of agony as the doomed Titan vanished without a trace on June 18, 2023. The daring mission had been months in the making - and almost didn't happen at the hands of harsh weather conditions in Newfoundland, Canada. In a now chilling Facebook post, passenger Hamish Harding wrote: "Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023. "A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow." It would be his final Facebook post. The following morning, he and four others - led by Stockton Rush - began the 12,5000ft descent towards the bottom of the Atlantic. But as it made its way down into the depths, the vessel lost all contact with its mother ship on the surface, the Polar Prince. It sparked a frantic four-day search for signs of life, with the hunt gripping the entire world. There was hope that by some miracle, the crew was alive and desperately waiting to be saved. But that sparked fears rescue teams faced a race against time as the passengers only had a 96-hour oxygen supply when they set out, which would be quickly dwindling. Then, when audio of banging sounds was detected under the water, it inspired hope that the victims were trapped and signalling to be rescued. It heartbreakingly turned out that the banging noises were likely either ocean noises or from other search ships, the US Navy determined. Countries around the world deployed their resources to aid the search, and within days the Odysseus remote-operated vehicle (ROV) was sent down to where the ghostly wreck of the Titanic sits. The plan was for the ROV to hook onto the sub and bring it up 10,000ft, where it would meet another ROV before heading to the surface. But any hopes of a phenomenal rescue were dashed when Odysseus came across a piece of debris from the sub around 1,600ft from the Titanic. The rescue mission tragically turned into a salvage task, and the heartbroken families of those on board were told the devastating news. It was confirmed by the US Coast Guard that the sub had suffered a "catastrophic implosion". 7 Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, who died in the implosion 7 Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates, is among those rumoured to have owned a submerisble Credit: Reuters Advertisement
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Billionaire's secret Titanic mission ‘is IMMINENT' 2yrs on from Titan disaster as builder of new ‘Triton' sub speaks out
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANOTHER billionaire is rumoured to be plotting a secretive underwater mission to wreck of the Titanic two years on from the Titan disaster. The world watched in horror back in 2023 as a frantic rescue mission uncovered the tragic end of the Titan vessel and its five passengers. 7 The world watched in horror back in 2023 as a frantic rescue mission uncovered the tragic end of the Titan vessel Credit: AFP 7 Larry Connor and Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey are reported to be considering a trip Credit: Triton Submarines 7 Triton Submarines are reportedly building a new submersible that could handle the 12,500ft depths Credit: Triton Submarines 7 Voyaging to the bottom of the ocean is fraught with potential hazards, as the devastating incident laid bare. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush was among the five who died when the submersible imploded near the wreck of the Titanic. A recent damning report set out the catalogue of fatal failures that led to the disaster. But despite the risks, another wealthy enthusiast is expected to attempt the deep sea voyage in the near future. While rumours are flying around ocean exploration circles that a fresh trip is imminent, the details are tightly under wraps. One knowledgeable source told The New York Post: "I heard that somebody is going down to the Titanic in a couple weeks. "What I can tell you is that it's a billionaire. "Going down there will cost $10 million. You would recognise his name." The source added that they don't want to ruin the surprise the billionaire is believed to have in mind. "He'll want to make an announcement that he is the first person to go to the Titanic since the tragedy," they said. Moment infamous Titan sub is plunged into darkness at the bottom of the ocean floor in terrifying test dive before it imploded near Titanic shipwreck While the identity of the mystery explorer remains unknown, there has been no shortage of interest in such a voyage among billionaires. Trips to the bottom of the ocean cost vast sums of money, meaning it is only realistically open to those with the deepest pockets. The late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Wall Street magnate Ray Dalio, and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich are among those believed to have owned submersibles, according to The New York Post. But the BBC reported in May last year that businessman Larry Connor and Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey were plotting a journey. Lahey is reportedly building a new submersible that could handle the 12,500ft depths. He told The New York Post: "Besides it being a wreck of historical significance, the fact that it lies at such great depth makes it fascinating to visit. "Titanic is a wreck that's covered in marine life and soft coral. "People want to go there for the same reason that they want to climb Mount Everest." An investigation into the Titan disaster released by the US Coast Guard found the tragedy was "preventable" and driven by "critically flawed" practices. The report stated: "For several years preceding the incident, OceanGate leveraged intimidation tactics, allowances for scientific operations, and the company's favourable reputation to evade regulatory scrutiny. "By strategically creating and exploiting regulatory confusion… OceanGate was ultimately able to operate Titan completely outside of the established deep-sea protocols." The submersible, which was owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, imploded on June 18, 2023 while en route to the Titanic site. All five people on board were killed instantly under the extreme pressure. Investigators added that, had Stockton Rush survived, they would have recommended the Department of Justice consider a criminal probe. How the Titan tragedy unfolded By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital) FIVE men plunged beneath the surface of the North Atlantic in a homemade sub in a bid to explore the Titanic wreckage. Four passengers paid £195,000 each to go on the sub, with the fifth member of the trip being a crew member. But what was supposed to be a short trip spiralled into days of agony as the doomed Titan vanished without a trace on June 18, 2023. The daring mission had been months in the making - and almost didn't happen at the hands of harsh weather conditions in Newfoundland, Canada. In a now chilling Facebook post, passenger Hamish Harding wrote: "Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023. "A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow." It would be his final Facebook post. The following morning, he and four others - led by Stockton Rush - began the 12,5000ft descent towards the bottom of the Atlantic. But as it made its way down into the depths, the vessel lost all contact with its mother ship on the surface, the Polar Prince. It sparked a frantic four-day search for signs of life, with the hunt gripping the entire world. There was hope that by some miracle, the crew was alive and desperately waiting to be saved. But that sparked fears rescue teams faced a race against time as the passengers only had a 96-hour oxygen supply when they set out, which would be quickly dwindling. Then, when audio of banging sounds was detected under the water, it inspired hope that the victims were trapped and signalling to be rescued. It heartbreakingly turned out that the banging noises were likely either ocean noises or from other search ships, the US Navy determined. Countries around the world deployed their resources to aid the search, and within days the Odysseus remote-operated vehicle (ROV) was sent down to where the ghostly wreck of the Titanic sits. The plan was for the ROV to hook onto the sub and bring it up 10,000ft, where it would meet another ROV before heading to the surface. But any hopes of a phenomenal rescue were dashed when Odysseus came across a piece of debris from the sub around 1,600ft from the Titanic. The rescue mission tragically turned into a salvage task, and the heartbroken families of those on board were told the devastating news. It was confirmed by the US Coast Guard that the sub had suffered a "catastrophic implosion". 7 Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, who died in the implosion 7 Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates, is among those rumoured to have owned a submerisble Credit: Reuters
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Titanic wreck to be visited by another billionaire — two years after Oceangate disaster killed 5
The 1912 shipwreck of the Titanic has remained off limits for two years since the reckless Oceangate tragedy which killed five people instantly when their sub-par submersible imploded as it descended into the deep. However, the Titanic — 12,500 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean — remains a huge draw for thrill-seeking billionaires and marine explorers alike. In particular, those in the submersible industry are eager to send another manned craft to the wreck to try and restore public confidence in such missions. Advertisement 'Besides it being a wreck of historical significance, the fact that it lies at such great depth makes it fascinating to visit,' Patrick Lahey, CEO of Triton Submarines, who is in the midst of building a new commercially available submersible that could handle such a journey, told The Post. 12 The deck bulkhead of the wrecked Titanic that continues to intrigue. via REUTERS 12 The mighy RMS Titanic has long captured the imagination of undersea explorers. The Print Collector via Getty Im Advertisement 12 This is a rendering of the two-seat Triton Explorer. It is in the process of being built in conjunction with tech entrepreneur Larry Connor. Triton boss Patrick Lahey promises that the the acrylic bubble creates the impression of there being 'nothing between you and the ocean environment that you're in.' The Connor Group 12 Patrick Lahey, who heads up Triton Submarines, an elite maker of submersibles, is hoping to make people realize that underwater exploration, when done correctly, is completely safe. CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK 'Titanic is a wreck that's covered in marine life and soft coral. People want to go there for the same reason that they want to climb Mount Everest.' Making the trip costs a huge amount of money, so only the most rarefied can afford to do it. A handful of billionaires are known to have owned their own submersibles, including the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft; Ray Dalio, a Wall Street magnate and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Advertisement The current chatter among elite ocean explorers is of an imminent new expedition, but the details are hush hush. 12 The doomed OceanGate submersible that held five passengers. They all perished on an ill-fated trip to to the Titanic wreckage site. Submersible insiders describe the incident as something that could have been avoided. Becky Kagan Schott / OceanGate Expeditions 12 After the tragic implosion, salvaged pieces of the OceanGate vessel were lifted out of the ocean. Reuters 12 The wrecked Titanic is what drew the OceanGate tourists to drop six figures on a dive that proved to be deadly. via REUTERS Advertisement 'I heard that somebody is going down to the Titanic in a couple weeks,' a knowledgeable source told The Post. 'What I can tell you is that it's a billionaire. Going down there will cost $10 million. You would recognize his name.' The source said they didn't want to spoil the mystery billionaire's surprise, adding: 'He'll want to make an announcement that he is the first person to go to the Titanic since the tragedy.' Oceangate, the private company who launched the ill-fated Titan vessel, boasted it was the first to take ordinary tourists to see the Titanic, charging $250,000 per person. 12 Ray Dalio, a Wall Street billionaire and advocate of undersea exploration, in the background. In the foreground: a sphere-shaped submersible. Bianca Otero/ZUMA / However, CEO and captain Stockton Rush, who died in the disaster, has been accused of cutting corners. A US Coast Guard report released earlier this month said Titan imploded because its pressure hull where passengers sit was mostly made from fiberglass, rather than the more traditionally used titanium. Rush also forewent safety tests and didn't adequately repair and maintain the vessel, particularly after one incident in July 2022 when it got stuck in the Titanic wreckage and suffered 'irreversible' hull damage. Triton's planned $20 million sub will be held to a much higher standard. Lahey has estimated it will be finished by next year. Advertisement 12 Video game developers Gabe Newell owns one of the amazing submersibles that can go down to Titanic depths. Future Publishing via Getty Images 'I'm very excited to be building this and to change the narrative,' he said. Other manned submersibles can reach the depths of the Titanic, but are mostly operated by nation's navies or marine research companies. One such vessel is the Nautile, a French Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) capable of carrying up to three people to depths of 20,000 feet. That submersible was deployed in the desperate search for the Titan after it disappeared. Advertisement Meanwhile, DSV Alvin is an American-built submersible that previously dived to the Titanic for research, taking part in a 1986 expedition which produced some of the earliest and most iconic images of the famous wreck, first discovered a year earlier. The vessel carries two scientists and a pilot, and is currently owned by the United States Navy. 12 Victor Vescovo, a retired US Navy commander and undersea enthusiast, poses alongside the Limiting Factor submersible (now owned by Gabe Newell). Rick Cruz/PDN 12 Vescovo described his journey to the Titanic as 'the most dangerous dive I ever did.' AP Russia's navy has at least two DSVs known as Consuls, both able to dive to 20,000 feet with two passengers, while the Chinese-built and operated Striver can carry three crew members. Advertisement That vessel has dived to the deepest point on earth — the roughly 35,000-foot depth of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, located in the Pacific near the coast of Japan. That point has also been reached by the US built DSV Limiting Factor, built by Triton at a cost of $37 million. Since it was first deployed in 2018, it has taken some 21 people to Challenger Deep. 12 Treasure hunter and submersible owner Carl Allen has advice for people lucky enough to take a submersible to the Titanic: Keep an eye out for abandoned shoes on the deck. Carl Allen/Facebook After being in the hands of a marine research organization until 2022, the sub was sold and is currently owned by Gabe Newell, a computer game mogul who most famously created Half Life. He has since renamed it Bakunawa and in 2024 it was used to make the first all-woman deep submersible dive to a depth of 26,000 ft carrying pilots Kate Wawatai and Heather Stewart. Advertisement For those less excited about marine research, the Titanic remains the wreck most want to visit. However, the trip is not for the faint of heart. 'It was the most dangerous dive I ever did – and I've been to the bottom of the ocean 15 times,' Victor Vescovo, a retired US Navy commander who originally piloted Limiting Factor, named for the spacecraft in a science fiction novel, told The Post. 'There are a lot of wires and entanglement and entrapment hazards with that wreck. You want to get close, so you can see it and so you can get good film [footage]. But the closer you get, the more dangerous it becomes.' One thing you will want to get close enough to see are the shoes. 'A good friend of mine, Jim Sinclair, was the first archaeologist to go down to the Titanic,' the treasure hunter Carl Allen told The Post. 'And one of the things he always gets emotional about is the shoes. They are on the deck. You see the pairs and you start to wonder who had been wearing them.'
