Titanic II plans to be unveiled in Southampton by billionaire (From Daily Echo)
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Australian billionaire to reveal Titanic II blueprint in Southampton
5:10pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News
Titanic II plans to be unveiled in Southampton by billionaire
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.
For all the background, videos and features on Titanic click here
Comments(13)
daddyrichie869
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5:44pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Abbey Saint
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6:08pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Frank28
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6:43pm Wed 24 Oct 12
MGRA
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7:54pm Wed 24 Oct 12
wake up
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9:32pm Wed 24 Oct 12
bazzeroz
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10:03pm Wed 24 Oct 12
wake up wrote:No! The crew will probably be Filipino's on low pay and under a flag of convenience.
will the crew be wearing those hats with corks dangling on strings ? hope so , it might keep em afloat just in case they hit an iceberg .
Huffter
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10:17pm Wed 24 Oct 12
kingnotail
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11:55pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Pettle
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8:25pm Thu 25 Oct 12
The Grinch
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8:55am Fri 26 Oct 12
In reality this project will never happen. I don't know if fat greedy pigs might fly...
Peter Godwin
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6:19pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Abbey Saint wrote:Probably only people who still know the difference between a boat and a ship!
It won't happen. Who is going to get on a boat with that name
Skating on thin ice
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9:09pm Fri 26 Oct 12
George4th says...
5:15pm Wed 24 Oct 12
The City needs to pull out all the stops to get the Titanic II to be a regular caller at Southampton - what a coup that would be!