BILLIONAIRE, Clive Palmer, the Australian industrial magnate building a replica of Southampton’s ill-fated liner, Titanic, is to visit the city next month.

While in Southampton he will unveil blueprints for this project and also reveal further details about the vessel, due to arrive in Southampton for her maiden voyage in 2016.

“My time in the city will be very important to me as I am only too aware of the highly significant place Titanic holds in the history of the local community,’’ said Mr Palmer.

At a reception at the city’s Grand Cafe, which is part of the former South Western Hotel where many of Titanic’s passenger stayed before embarking, further features of the new ship will be disclosed.

It is already known the vessel will mirror her predecessor’s dimensions, measuring 885 feet long and more than 173 feet high, although she will be slightly wider to improve stability.

The businessman’s visit is part of a global tour to publicise his scheme to construct the 40,000 ton copy of the White Star ship which sank, with the loss of 1,500 lives, on her first trans- Atlantic crossing from Southampton to New York after striking an iceberg a century ago.

According to Mr Palmer, who has formed the Blue Star Line to build Titanic II, the ship will be constructed in conjunction with Finnish design company, Deltamarin, and Chinese shipbuilders, CSC Jinling Shipyard.

“Titanic II will have 840 cabins and nine decks and retain the first, second and third-class divisions of the original White Star liner,’’ said Mr Palmer, who hopes to visit the berth in Southampton’s Eastern Docks, from where the original ship departed in 1912.

“The first voyage remains set for 2016, with the ship due to sail from China to Southampton ahead of her maiden passenger crossing to New York. She will be every bit as luxurious as the original, but will have state-ofthe- art technology together with the latest navigation and safety systems.’’

Titanic II, which will be powered by diesel engines, have a larger rudder and be equipped with a series of bow thrusters, cannot be an exact replica of the original vessel as she will have to meet stringent, 21st century, maritime rules and regulations.

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