An Australian billionaire obsessed with launching the Titanic II has reannounced his ambition to create and sail a replica of the vast 1912 ship that infamously hit an iceberg and sank mid-Atlantic, costing over a thousand lives.
Let the journey begin
Clive Palmer, a mining magnate, has attempted to rebuild the Titanic twice before. Previous projects were launched in 2012 and 2018 that have not come to fruition due to “unforeseen global delays”, Palmer explained in a press release. These delays included a number of lawsuits the businessman was involved in and then the pandemic.
Now though the entrepreneur has “reengaged with partners to bring the dream of Titanic ll to life. Let the journey begin,’’ he said at a launch event at the Sydney Opera House on 13 March.
A ship of peace and dreams
The timing, CNN has noted, coincides with the post-Covid global recovery of the cruise industry. But Palmer frames the revived project as a more noble cause.
“We all know how to make war,” his press release said. “We get armies and we fund wars. People know about that. But it is a lot harder to make peace. To make peace you have got to stick with it every day. You progress inch by inch. Titanic ll is something that can provide peace. It can be a ship of peace between all countries of the world. Millions have dreamt of sailing on her, seeing her in port and experiencing her unique majesty. Titanic ll will be the ship where those dreams come true.”
Three cabin classes and steerage-style food
At the launch, pre-existing promotional materials were used to demonstrate to guests what the ship experience would be like. Designed to be 269 metres long (833 feet) and 32.2 metres wide (105 feet), the Titanic II would be slightly larger than its tragic sister. Nine decks and 835 cabins provide capacity for 2,345 passengers – who are encouraged but not obliged to wear period costume for an authentic look.
Plans include three different classes of cabin, with just under half dedicated to first class. Eventual guests who choose to travel in “third class” will have the choice to eat like steerage passengers, with stew and mash served at long communal tables.
But there is some way to go before any passengers can set foot aboard. The contract, which Palmer has said he expects to go to a European firm, is out to tender and work is not expected to start until the first quarter of 2025.
Whether or not Palmer will succeed in creating his dream at long last remains to be seen, but he is unlikely to give up. Asked about his obsession, he told local media, “It’s a lot more fun to do the Titanic than it is to sit at home and count my money.”
