19 June 2012

Blue Star Line Chairman, Professor Clive Palmer, today announced one of the world’s leading ship design and marine engineering companies has been commissioned to assist with the Titanic II project. Finnish-based Deltamarin, which has offices worldwide, will undertake a full review of the Titanic II project to ensure the vessel will be compliant with all current safety and construction regulations, as well as meeting the design criteria laid down by Blue Star Line. The work carried out by Deltamarin will enable China’s CSC Jinling Shipyard to begin construction of the passenger liner. Professor Palmer said Blue Star Line had been overwhelmed by the international response to the Titanic II project, which was announced in April this year. “More than 20,000 people have registered on Blue Star Line’s website expressing an interest in receiving regular updates from us or requesting information on how to secure bookings for Titanic II’s maiden voyage,” Professor Palmer stated. He reaffirmed the 2016 launch date for the ship and the intention for Titanic II to sail from China to England before her maiden passenger voyage retracing its original journey. “Titanic II will be a regular feature on the transatlantic route between the UK and USA,” Professor Palmer said. “This magnificent vessel is being constructed in memory of the heroic people who served on the first ship, as well as the passengers who sadly shared their fate. “We also want to recognise the artists and artisans whose skill, creativity and dexterity has never been fully recognised because of the ship’s limited service.” On April 30, 2012, Professor Palmer announced to the world his intention to build and launch Titanic II in conjunction with leading Chinese shipbuilders, CSC Jinling Shipyard. The announcement came 100 years after the original vessel last sailed. Professor Palmer said Titanic II would have the same dimensions as its predecessor, with 840 rooms and nine decks. The main changes to the original Titanic would be below the water line including welding, a bulbous bow for greater fuel efficiency, diesel generation and bow thrusters for increased manoeuvrability. Deltamarin specialise in consulting, design and engineering and project management from small concept development tasks and studies, to complete engineering packages in the marine field. They offer services to the marine and offshore industries worldwide. They were founded in 1990 by a group of naval architects and engineers, some of whom still work for the company. More than 400 people are currently employed by the group worldwide. Their major projects include ‘Oasis of the Seas’, a vast cruise vessel launched in 2009 that can carry over 5400 people. Also on Deltamarin’s impressive list of more than 5000 marine developments are ‘Celebrity Solstice’ and ‘Celebrity Equinox’, two of the most ground breaking cruise ship designs in operation today.

Clive Palmer says new Chinese-built ship will make maiden voyage across Atlantic in 2016

FEBRUARY 2013 

A HUNDRED years after the original Titanic sank, she – or rather, a ship like her – is set to sail again, thanks to one of Australia’s richest men, who has commissioned a replica of the famous passenger liner.

The new version of the ship already dubbed Titanic II, will be custom-built for billionaire Queensland businessman Clive Palmer, who has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Chinese company CSC Jinling Shipyard. The ship is due to make its maiden voyage in 2016.

The 21st-century liner will be an almost exact replica of the original ill-fated ship and will have the same dimensions, with 840 rooms and nine decks. The diesel-powered vessel will also have four funnels, like the original, which ran on coal, but they will be purely decorative.

However, there will be some differences below the waterline. The new ship will feature a “bulbous bow for greater fuel efficiency and diesel generation, and an enlarged rudder and bow thrusters for improved maneuverability” explains the Sydney Morning Herald.

The ship will have a few other features that the original lacked. They include an exhibition room dedicated to promoting tourism in the state of Queensland, and, crucially, an escort from the Chinese navy when it makes its maiden voyage from London to New York in 2016, something that should help it avoid the same fate as the first Titanic.

The original liner was the largest ship of its time. It struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York and sank on 15 April 1912, killing 1,500 people.

When asked if the new version of the Titanic would sink, Palmer responded with typical Australian honesty. “Of course it will sink if you put a hole in it,” he said. “It is going to be designed so it won’t sink. But you never know what could happen.”

“Palmer did not provide a cost estimate. He said he had established a new shipping company, Blue Star Line Pty Ltd, and that design work for the Titanic II has begun with assistance from a historical research team,” reported the Daily Mail. ·