Entertainment / Pop Culture

Get Ready for the Titanic II (the Ship, not the Movie)

By: Chris O'Shea

As you know, we here at the Daily Lounge love when rich people do funny things, and Clive Palmer, one of Australia's richest dudes, has provided us with the newest fodder. Palmer, who has made millions upon millions as a mining mogul, wants to spend a heap of that on building the Titanic II .

Palmer has joined forces with a Chinese company called CSC Jinling Shipyard to replicate the Titanic in almost every way, aside from that whole, "sinking and killing over one thousand people" thing. He has named his new company "The Blue Star Line" after the Titanic's parent company The White Star Line, and the the Titanic II will have the exact same number of rooms (840) and decks (nine). Palmer told gathered press that his new boat is intended to honor all those who worked on the original.

"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 system," said Palmer. "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." The maiden voyage, according to The Daily Mail, is set for 2016, and the Titanic will travel from England to New York.

A spokesperson for Palmer wouldn't comment on just how much the project is going to cost, but we imagine it has got to be a lot. Especially considering the amenities Palmer wants. "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.

Of course, if you're going to rebuild a boat that is widely known for sinking and killing people, you have to address that. Palmer eventually did, but not so eloquently. When a reporter asked if the Titanic 2 would sink just like the original, Palmer replied, "Of course it will sink if you put a hole in it." Uh, not exactly the way to comfort future travelers — read: paying customers — is it? Palmer then quickly followed up that "It is going to be designed so it won't sink. It will be designed as a modern ship with all the technology to ensure that doesn't happen."

Nicely done! However, Palmer is just a rich guy doing a funny thing, not a person trained to say the most politically correct comments. So he added, "But, of course, if you are superstitious like you are, you never know what could happen." Not a smart move.

Oh, and did we mention that Palmer made this announcement on the same day as he declared that he would be running in Queensland's next federal election? All aboard the Palmer Titanic II. Next stop? Hopefully not sinking and/or making poor political decisions.

[Pic via Flickr - Cliff1066]