April 30, 2012: Barry Cauchon
Hi all: I just came across this interesting article from The Associated Press on Titanic. In short, the man (Clive Palmer) wants to recreate the Titanic as an actual working luxury cruise ship with all the lavish trimmings for a niche cruise ship market. With the fascination about Titanic, his venture just might work! However, like any venture associated with a disaster like the Titanic, one has to remember that over 1500 people lost their lives on the original ship and countless others suffered for the rest of their lives from their losses.
As always, I do not use my blog for my own personal soap box but I am always fascinated with your comments on the subject. So tell me what you think and I’ll be happy to post your thoughts. Debate is good but don’t make it personal and we’ll see what people have to say.
Best
Barry
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High-tech, full-size version of ship to be ready for 2016 maiden voyage
The Associated Press
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 7:08 AM ET
Last Updated: Apr 30, 2012 7:21 AM ET
An Australian billionaire said Monday he’ll build a high-tech replica of the Titanic at a Chinese shipyard and its maiden voyage in late 2016 will be from England to New York, just like its namesake planned.
Weeks after the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the original Titanic, Clive Palmer announced Monday he has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Chinese company CSC Jinling Shipyard to build the Titanic II.
“It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic, but … will have state-of-the-art 21st-century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” Palmer said in a statement.
He called the project “a tribute to the spirit of the men and women who worked on the original Titanic.”
More than 1,500 people died after the Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its first voyage. It was the world’s largest and most luxurious ocean liner at the time.
Real estate, coal mining
Palmer built a fortune on real estate on Australia’s Gold Coast tourist strip before becoming a coal mining magnate. BRW magazine reported he was Australia’s fifth-richest person last year with more than 5 billion Australian dollars ($5.2 billion).
Palmer said at a news conference that previous attempts to build a Titanic replica failed because proponents failed to raise enough money and commission a shipyard. The Titanic II is the first of four luxury cruise ships Palmer has commissioned CSC Jinling Shipyard to build.
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.
The diesel-powered ship will have four smoke stacks like the coal-powered original, but they will be purely decorative.
The most obvious changes from the original Titanic would be below the water line, including welding rather than rivets, a bulbous bow for greater fuel efficiency and enlarged rudder and bow thrusters for increased manoeuvrability, Palmer said.
‘Many will embrace it’
Brett Jardine, general manager for Australia and New Zealand in the industry group International Cruise Council, said Titanic II would be small by modern standards but could prove viable at the top end of the luxury market.
“From a marketing point of view, many will embrace it, and perhaps there’ll be some that wouldn’t,” Jardine said.
“If you’ve got a niche, it’s going to work. Why go out there and try to compete with the mass market products that are out there now?” he added.
While the Titanic II would carry around 1,680 passengers, most modern cruise ships create economies of scale by catering for more than 2,000 passengers, he said.
Among the world’s largest passenger ships, Allure of the Seas is 90 metres longer than the 270-meter Titanic and has 2,700 cabins.
© The Associated Press, 2012
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Best
Barry
A Little Touch of History 
I have already said yes I will back you up all the way. As the President and first Titanic Society in North Ireland, The Shannon Ulster Titanic Society. Mr Palmer. I wish you every success. And thanks Barry for this information. Pat in Bangor co down N.Ireland. (SUTS) the only all ireland titanic society.
Hi Pat: As always, I love hearing from you. Pat is the President of the Shannon Ulster Titanic Society. He lost his grandfather on the Titanic. He and I have been good internet friends for several years now. I hope to one day have our first face-to-face meeting. Until then, stay well my friend. Barry
Barry,Your stories including me in them is great and especially your kind words about the Shannon Ulster Titanic Society,and now your story about Mr Palmer who intends to build a Titanic replica. Pat
You are always welcomed here Pat.
Barry
Barry: Mr Palmer may pull this one off, the lure of the Titanic as a money making scheme is always on the cards. As like you I have an interest in certain subjects and yours is,or one of them, is the earlier president of the U.S.A. Abraham Lincoln who was also killed. A tragic story but one that you have kept alive. My interest is that the Titanic claimed the life of my grandfather, who although being born in Cobh Co Cork, was at that time a British Subject. He served in the Royal Navy with his last service being in the British Mediteranean Fleet. One of the British Fleets that sailed on the seven seas and controlled the World with its sea power. It also had the biggest merchant navy fleets in the world. But America was at that time was also equal in power with Britain. After much research I found out that my grandfather became a United States Citizen and was last a Quartermaster on the SS Philadelphia of the American Line. He was later transferred to the Titanic where he drowned. However to make things more complicated he was sailing under his new name Lionel Leonard, not Andrew John Shannon, the name he had been serving under in the U.S.A. It’s an unusual but true story. There is a lot more which I am still researching, but thank you Barry for being on your site and your welcome. Maybe one day we will meet in the person. Pat
thanks again Barry for your help and comments.
Barry,On looking at the subject of Lincoln who was one of the many Presidents who was assasinated in the U.S.A. I am always curious as to why there were so many killed,mostly it looks by Americans.Just recently with the advent of the film about Lincoln,it seems that all your research has been worthwhile and rewarding on the history of Lincoln.
Also your remarks about Bob Palmer in Australia thanks for that.
Barry,2016 will be the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Jutland where the Navy took on the German Navy and although the German Navy destroyed more Ships than the Royal Navy were outnumbered by the Royal navy in Ships,by 2 to one which meant that the German Navy went back to their ports and never came out again for the duration of the 1st World War,round 2 of England V Germany was a different kettle of fish where the German navy led the Royal Navy a merry Dance all over the place,it is interesting that in the battle of the Falkland Islands in the First World war the Royal Navy got the better of the German Navy,but in the Falklands War 1982,took on the Argentine Navy,and won the Battle with the opretion of the Nuclear Submarine which once a gain,made their navy stay in their ports,we now have the threat of attack to the Island because of the supply of planes etc by the Russians,it will be interesting to see how this pans out?