Billionaire plans another submersible trip to Titanic wreck two years after OceanGate implosion

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Digital Content Editor Barbara Friedman about trending online stories.

Listen below:

Another billionaire is planning a submersible trip to the Titanic wreck. After the OceanGate implosion two years ago, the news is sparking disbelief on social media.

The wreck, which lies 12,500 feet (3,800 metres) below the surface of the North Atlantic, has been off-limits since the OceanGate submersible mission killed five people in June 2023.

The implosion, which occurred about 90 minutes into the descent, was caused by a catastrophic failure of the submersible's carbon fibre hull under immense pressure. Investigations revealed that the implosion was preventable, with reports citing 'critically flawed' safety practices by OceanGate. 

Now, a billionaire is working with Triton Submarines to build a new submersible capable of making the journey, aiming to show it can be done safely, reports say.

Details of the upcoming expedition are not yet known, but the vessel is said to be ready for deep dive in 2026.

Social media users shared their sentiments. Mostly, people are asking why anyone would want to do this again when previous attempts have been fatal.

Some comments read: 

"There's got to be a portal down there or something they're not telling us about."

"This is why they [billionaires] need to pay taxes..."

"We're way too poor to understand this."

"What is down there at 12,500 feet that we really can't let live in peace?"

- Barbara Friedman, Digital Content Editor - Primedia

"The company making this one are saying, unlike the previous submersible which used a carbon-fibre hull – criticised for its weakness, this submersible will feature an acrylic hull and undergo rigorous testing to ensure it can handle dives to 13,000 feet. Would you take a ride in it? It's crazy..."

- Barbara Friedman, Digital Content Editor - Primedia

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