The RMS Titanic, built in Belfast and sank in the north Atlantic 103 years ago, is set to take to the seas again, as an Australian billionaire reveals the first images of Titanic II, a fully functioning replica of the ill-fated cruise liner.
The brainchild of Clive Palmer and his company, Blue Star Line, the new ship of dreams will look almost identical to the ship that sank after an iceberg tore a number of holes in its hull on the night of April 14th, 1912. Within three hours, the ship – widely considered the most luxury liner in the world and making its maiden voyage – had sunk to the bottom of the sea, with the loss of as many as 1,600 crew and passengers.
The Titanic II will look almost identical to the original, though will be four metres wider, to accommodate the required lifeboats to ensure all aboard can escape in the event of emergency. The ship’s hull will also be welded together, rather than riveted, in line with contemporary maritime safety requirements.
The new bridge will contain all the modern nautical instruments to ensure a safe passage [Blue Star Line]
The ship will be 270 metres long, 53 metres high, and weigh more than 40,000 tonnes, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
Passengers, like those crossing the Atlantic a century ago, will also be able to avail of first, second, and third-class cabins, and the finished ship will be able to accommodate 2,400 passengers and 900 crew members.
The luxury liner will come equipped with the same amenities as the original ship, including a swimming pool, Turkish baths, and gyms. It is, as yet, unclear whether there will be a number of old-style cars in which lovers crossing the class divide can erotically smear their hands on steamed-up windows.
The replica of the ship's famous grand staircase [Blue Star Line]
James McDonald, the marketing director of Blue Star Line said: "The new Titanic will, of course, have modern evacuation procedures, satellite controls, digital navigation and radar systems and all those things you'd expect on a 21st-century ship.
"We are not looking for investment from Dubai, as it is a project we are funding ourselves, but we have been in contact with a number of companies based in the Emirates who are looking at utilising opportunities that arises with the project.
"It is people looking to use the opportunity of the trademark and licensing potential of the project... We own the Titanic II name and trademark and people are lining up to be part of it."
The ship’s maiden voyage will take place in 2018, sailing from the eastern Chinese city of Jiangsu to Dubai.
