Triton Submarines has announced a new partnership with Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio and Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron in a bid to “support a vital new future of tech-enabled ocean exploration”.
The submarine specialist announced the news on the 10-year anniversary of National Geographic’s DeepSea expedition to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Triton founder and president Patrick Lahey said he “couldn’t be more excited” about the partnership. "At Triton, we create innovative technology and machines intended to push past existing boundaries and inspire the next generation of ocean advocates,” he said.
He continued: "Ray and Jim bring additional business acumen and discipline to the company, creative ideas and unique opportunities that will amplify and expand on the important work we have accomplished so far. I couldn’t be more excited to partner with two individuals with demonstrable passion and integrity and with a deep commitment to ocean innovation and exploration that will make Triton’s next chapter the most interesting of them all.”
Along with his son Mark, Dalio is the co-founder of OceanX, a philanthropic initiative that supports ocean science and aims to shine the spotlight on the success of this area. The organisation’s marine science and media vessel, the OceanXplorer, is equipped with a pair of Triton submersibles which have been instrumental in a number of ambitious expeditions, including BBC’s Blue Planet II and in the upcoming National Geographic/Disney series OceanXplorers (WT), which is executive produced by James Cameron.
Dalio said: “I’m thrilled to partner with the Triton team because my long relationship with them has convinced me that they are the best and most cutting-edge builders of non-military subs in the world. These subs are singular in the industry and are easily outfitted with advanced scientific and media equipment to bring important discoveries back to everyone.”
Cameron is a passionate underwater explorer, experienced submersible pilot and longtime marine tech innovator credited with developing unprecedented deep ocean exploration vehicles, lighting and 3D camera equipment. He said: “We’re entering an exciting new age of technically-enabled ocean exploration reliant on a new suite of marine vehicles, advanced imaging systems and other tech that will propel ocean science. More than 80 per cent of our oceans are unexplored. There are mysteries to solve, new discoveries to make and critical knowledge to acquire.”
The DeepSea Challenge documentary followed James Cameron piloting the DeepSea Challenger submersible to the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on the planet. The ten-year anniversary celebration took place at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.