Ever wondered what sailing on the Titanic would be like? If so, you might just be in luck. Australia-based company Blue Star Line has announced plans to launch a fully-functioning modern replica of the ship in the year 2018. Aptly dubbed Titanic II, the new vessel will set sail nearly 106 years after RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Before its untimely demise on April 14, 1912, the Titanic was considered to be the world’s largest and most expensive cruise ship, boasting some of the most advanced technologies of the time. According to Clive Palmer, the billionaire owner of Blue Star Line, the modern replica will house a total of nine floors and as many as 840 cabins, arranged into first, second and third classes to accommodate up to 2,400 guests and around 900 crew members.
Like the original vessel, Titanic II will be equipped with luxurious Turkish baths, gyms and a swimming pool. Measuring about 270 meters in length, 53 meters in height and approximately 40,000 tonnes in weight, it will be four meters wider than its predecessor. In keeping with the current maritime safety requirements, the ship’s hull will be welded together instead of being riveted together. As the developers point out, it will have enough lifeboats for everyone present on board.
Additionally, the replica will feature some modern updates, including hi-tech navigation, satellite and radar technologies. Originally scheduled to debut sometime this year, Titanic II is currently gearing up for a launch in 2018. For its maiden voyage, however, it will travel from the Chinese province of Jiangsu all the way to Dubai in United Arab Emirates. Speaking about the project, James McDonald of Blue Star Line said:
We are not looking for investment from Dubai, as it is a project we are funding ourselves, but we have been in contact with a number of companies based in the Emirates who are looking at utilizing opportunities that arises with the project. It is people looking to use the opportunity of the trademark and licensing potential of the project… We own the Titanic II name and trademark and people are lining up to be part of it.
While the exact cost of tickets is currently not known, it is expected to go as high as $1 million. To learn more about Titanic II, head over to Blue Star Line’s official website.
Via: The Independent