It is a truth universally acknowledged that mining magnate and billionaire Clive Palmer loves the Titanic — and not just the ship but also the movie.
Palmer re-announced plans to build Titanic II at the Sydney Opera House today, promising his ship will be "far, far superior to the original Titanic".
"The government lockdowns sent the cruise industry into a long-term shutdown but shipping is back in full business with passenger numbers now surpassing pre-COVID levels," Palmer said.
Clive Palmer showed detailed artist impressions of the Titanic II at the Sydney media event on Wednesday. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi
The project was first announced in 2012, with promises that construction would start by the end of that year and the commercially viable ocean liner would be sailing by 2016.
It was not. After running into financial troubles the project stalled.
It was launched again in 2018, and once more in 2024.
At the latest launch, Palmer said the Titanic II, which he called "the ship of love" would be a symbol of peace. He said despite the delays, it was "something that needed to be built".
Palmer said at the announcement: "The love story of Rose and Jack (played by Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1997 movie) is one that touches the hearts of everybody."
It will have mostly the same interior and cabin designs as its 20th-century predecessor but with improved safety features.
"We all know how to make war. We get armies and we fund wars. People know about that. But it is a lot harder to make peace," he said in a media release.
"To make peace you have got to stick with it every day. You progress inch by inch."
Other passion projects of Palmer include making a Jurassic Park theme park which opened to the public in 2013 and features animatronic dinosaurs.
