First images of the planned Titanic II revealed

5:16pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Keith Hamilton, Shipping & Heritage Reporter

Computer image of Titanic II in New York Computer image of Titanic II in New York

THESE are the first, exclusive glimpses of how Titanic II will look when she arrives in Southampton for her maiden voyage in 2016.

More than a century after the original Titanic left the city on her ill-fated voyage a full-scale replica is due to make her international debut in Southampton.

According to the new computer generated images, Titanic II, which will be built in one of China’s biggest shipyards, is expected to be as lavish as the former White Star Liner back in 1912.

If successfully completed Titanic II will defy sceptics who said the ship would never be built.

Like her predecessor, Titanic II will have four funnels, a highly unusual feature for 21st century vessels, and mirror the look and outline of the first ship the wreck of which now lies on the bottom of the Atlantic.

The interiors of the new ship are being designed to echo many of the features which caused such a sensation when the former Titanic arrived in the docks more than 100 years ago.

Passengers on Titanic II’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York will be able to walk down the famous grand staircase, relax in sumptuous public rooms, and dine in ornately decorated restaurants.

Multi-millionaire Professor Clive Palmer, the man behind the project and who will be in Southampton next month, said: “Titanic II has captured the world’s imagination since I announced my shipping company, Blue Star Line, would recreate the famous ship in honour of the 100-year anniversary of the launch and untimely fate of Titanic.

“While just as luxurious as her namesake, Titanic II will have every modern amenity along with 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems.”

Over the decades many similar projects have been announced but all sank without trace, but the Australian mining magnate is determined he will succeed.

Professor Palmer is expected to reveal further details about Titanic II to an audience of specially invited guests from Southampton’s shipping and port industries on Tuesday, March 5.

Appropriately the meeting will be held at the city’s Grand Cafe, which at one time was part of the South Western Hotel where many of Titanic’s first class passengers stayed before embarking on the White Star Line ship back in April, 1912.

A few days before the Southampton event, Mr Palmer is also staging a major press conference in London as part of a global tour to promote Titanic II.

The original Titanic foundered on April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.

The loss of Titanic resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, including hundreds of crew members from Southampton.

Comments(16)

Stephen J says...
5:30pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Professor Clive Palmer. "Professor" always sounds good, whether strictly true or not.

Report this post »

moocowpoorchick says...
6:00pm Thu 21 Feb 13

as lavish as the original!! Really? Made it china! I give it till dock head before it breaks down or sinks

Report this post »

Eric_Cartman says...
6:07pm Thu 21 Feb 13

I'd be surprised if this gets built. If it does, I'd be surprised if it will have the same lines; the shear and camber of the decks, the very small coefficient of fineness and the hand crafted cabins, each fitted within the ship and not made elsewhere and slotted in like a big lego set...

Report this post »

soton1980 says...
6:10pm Thu 21 Feb 13

'THESE are the first, exclusive glimpses of how Titanic II will look when she arrives in Southampton for her maiden voyage in 2016.'

With the Statue of Liberty in the background as well?

Report this post »

Stephen J says...
6:19pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Eric_Cartman wrote:
I'd be surprised if this gets built. If it does, I'd be surprised if it will have the same lines; the shear and camber of the decks, the very small coefficient of fineness and the hand crafted cabins, each fitted within the ship and not made elsewhere and slotted in like a big lego set...
Sadly, there's no way it can have any of those original qualities. However, I don't think it's aimed at a market for whom those things are particularly important. If this was a serious project to see how far it was possible to recreate an early 20th century liner I would take notice. Instead, it can only be about creating a floating, mobile theme park, so I'm not that interested.

Report this post »

SOULJACKER says...
6:19pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Blimey,
You are a happy lot aren't you :D

Negativity no matter what....is this all you can say about every story the Echo writes?

Smile & be happy you miserable lot!

Report this post »

Stillness says...
6:27pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Would Sir like ice with that?

Report this post »

Stephen J says...
6:28pm Thu 21 Feb 13

SOULJACKER wrote:
Blimey,
You are a happy lot aren't you :D

Negativity no matter what....is this all you can say about every story the Echo writes?

Smile & be happy you miserable lot!
Not negativity no matter what. Only where it's due. : )

Report this post »

SOULJACKER says...
6:52pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Stephen J wrote:
SOULJACKER wrote:
Blimey,
You are a happy lot aren't you :D

Negativity no matter what....is this all you can say about every story the Echo writes?

Smile & be happy you miserable lot!
Not negativity no matter what. Only where it's due. : )
That's all people do on here is moan, moan, moan.
While I guess some of it may be constructive criticism most of it isn't every story on here is just moaning for the sake of moaning & they do it all day by the look of it :)

Report this post »

cliffwalker says...
6:56pm Thu 21 Feb 13

What worries me is will large numbers of fare paying passengers be found for a new Titanic. A lot of people are going to be put off travelling by the history of the 1912 version. Who will queue up for the maiden voyage?

Report this post »

Stephen J says...
7:06pm Thu 21 Feb 13

SOULJACKER wrote:
Stephen J wrote:
SOULJACKER wrote:
Blimey,
You are a happy lot aren't you :D

Negativity no matter what....is this all you can say about every story the Echo writes?

Smile & be happy you miserable lot!
Not negativity no matter what. Only where it's due. : )
That's all people do on here is moan, moan, moan.
While I guess some of it may be constructive criticism most of it isn't every story on here is just moaning for the sake of moaning & they do it all day by the look of it :)
You're quite right. I'm moaning about you moaning about us moaning. Where will it ever end? Maybe it's just one eternal, unending moaniverse that we can never escape.

Report this post »

Bally_Hoo says...
7:15pm Thu 21 Feb 13

moocowpoorchick wrote:
as lavish as the original!! Really? Made it china! I give it till dock head before it breaks down or sinks
Well if it sinks after sailing all the way from china, it'll still have lasted longer than the original.

One difference straight away, notice the number of lifeboats!

Will it be operated by costa cruises?

Report this post »

Eric_Cartman says...
8:36pm Thu 21 Feb 13

SOULJACKER wrote:
Blimey,
You are a happy lot aren't you :D

Negativity no matter what....is this all you can say about every story the Echo writes?

Smile & be happy you miserable lot!
Being a merchant seafarer makes you a bit cynical I'm afraid. That said, I really do hope that it will be a serious ship with all the beauty that all other passenger ships have lost since the QE2...

Report this post »

J.P.M says...
10:12pm Thu 21 Feb 13

George Osborne will be forced into an embarrassing climbdown over next month's budget by having to admit that borrowing this year will go up, not down, according to his own independent tax and spending watchdog

Report this post »

Tenderhearts wife says...
11:41am Fri 22 Feb 13

why do they feel the need to recreate something that was such a massive failure causing such huge, ungaugeable sorrow and misery to so many people?
Why would anyone wish to travel on this? I really cannot understand it at all. Build a beautiful ship by all means but name it something else!

Report this post »

Jdejohn says...
12:04pm Fri 22 Feb 13

Well, Hollywood had its say in 1997 and I really feel this obsession with the Titanic should be put to rest. If Southampton is going to accept this charade then I say shame on you! Let it sail out of Shanghai and lets have some respect for those and the families of those that perished!!

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree