Australian billionaire Clive Palmer is reviving his Titanic II project, which aims to build a fully working replica of the famed Titanic liner, multiple media publications report.
The 69-year-old mining tycoon revealed the design of his passion project during a media event in the Sydney Opera House today. The new cruise ship is expected to have replicas of the original bridge, cabins and interiors, spread across nine decks – but it will also have modern safety features.
The dimensions of the 56,000-ton ship are also expected to be roughly the same as the original Titanic, although it will be slightly bigger, with a length of 269 metres and a width of 32 metres.
According to Palmer, the building of Titanic II will begin next year. The ship, however, will not set sail until June 2027, when it will make stops in Southampton and New York, much like its ill-fated predecessor, although other international destinations are also expected to be included in its route.
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“The essence of this venture is to offer passengers an unparalleled journey back in time, immersing them fully in the opulence and splendour of life aboard the original Titanic,” Palmer said during the press conference.
The project can be traced as far back as 2012, when Palmer established the company Blue Star Line to help fulfil his dream. In the years since, the project has stalled, with Palmer kickstarting the project for the second time in 2018, but mothballing it again during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The government lockdowns sent the cruise industry into long-term shutdown but shipping is back in full business with passenger numbers now surpassing pre-Covid levels,” the billionaire explained.
Titanic II is not the first passion project that the eccentric billionaire has tried to realise. In 2013, he opened his own version of Jurassic Park called “Palmersarus” in the Australian state of Queensland, with over 100 animatronic dinosaurs.
