Posted: 30 April 2012 0955 hrs
SYDNEY: One of
Australia's richest men, Clive Palmer, has unveiled plans for a 21st
century version of the Titanic to be built in China, with its first
voyage from England to New York set for 2016.
Palmer, a self-made
mining billionaire, said he has commissioned state-owned Chinese
company CSC Jinling Shipyard to construct Titanic II with exactly the
same dimensions as its predecessor.
"It will be every bit as
luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have
state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and
safety systems," Palmer said in a statement, released on Monday.
"Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016.
"We have invited the Chinese navy to escort Titanic II on its maiden voyage to New York."
His
announcement comes just weeks after the 100th anniversary of the
sinking of Titanic, which went down on April 15, 1912 after striking an
iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.
Palmer said the new ship would be a tribute to the spirit of the men and women who worked on the original.
"These
people produced work that is still marvelled at more than 100 years
later and we want that spirit to go on for another 100 years," he said.
Titanic was commissioned by White Star Line and was the largest liner in the world at the time.
Palmer
said he has established his own shipping company, Blue Star Line, with
the new ship having the same dimensions as its predecessor, with 840
rooms and nine decks.
- AFP/ck
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