BEHOLD THE RETURN OF THE TITANIC!!

One of Australia's richest men, Clive Palmer, on
Monday unveiled plans to build a 21st century version
of the doomed Titanic in China, with its first voyage
from England to New York set for 2016.
Palmer, a self-made mining billionaire, said he had
commissioned state-owned Chinese company CSC
Jinling Shipyard to construct Titanic II with 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.
"Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her
maiden voyage from England to North America is
scheduled for late 2016."
He added that he had invited the Chinese navy to
escort the Titanic II to New York.
The 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 first
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, which sank with the loss of 1,514 passengers
and crew.
"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 vessel having
the same specifications as its predecessor -- 270
metres long (885 feet), 53 metres high and weighing
some 40,000 tonnes.
It will have 840 rooms and nine decks with design
work in conjunction with an historical research team
underway. No figure was given on how much it would
cost.
The only changes to the original would be below the
water line including welding and not riveting, a
bulbous bow for greater fuel efficiency, diesel
generation and enlarged rudder and bow thrusters for
increased manoeuvrability.
"Titanic II will be the ultimate in comfort and luxury
with on-board gymnasiums and swimming pools,
libraries, high class restaurants and luxury cabins,"
Palmer said.
The ship would also include an exhibition room which
will be located in the space of the original's coal
boilers which will showcase his home state of
Queensland.
Palmer is estimated to be Australia's fifth richest
person, worth more than Aus$5 billion (US$5.2 billion)
, thanks to his vast coal and other mining assets in
Queensland and Western Australia.
He has also branched out into tourism and owns the
luxury Coolum resort on the Sunshine Coast, while
recently saying he wants to move into the media
industry, a sector dominated by Fairfax and Rupert
Murdoch's News Limited.
His decision to commission a Chinese shipbuilding
yard, which will also construct other luxury liners for
the tycoon, reinforces his ties to the country, which is
a key buyer of his coal and iron ore.
"The Chinese are renowned for building commercial
cargo and container ships," he said.
"China currently produces around two to three
percent of the world's luxury ships but is looking to
challenge the Europeans who have around 75 percent
of this market.
"The Chinese ship building industry with our
assistance wants to be a major player in this market."
The original Titanic was built in Belfast.

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