Titanic II resumes construction in China, plans to finally set sail in 2022
- The ship will trace the North Atlantic route of its doomed namesake
A US$500 million replica of the original Titanic is set to make its two-week maiden voyage in 2022.
Construction of the replica, called Titanic II, recently resumed after a financial dispute held up the project for several years.
The ship, which will feature the same cabin layout as the original, will sail from Dubai to Southampton, England and then on to New York, tracing the North Atlantic route of its doomed namesake, which sunk on April 12, 1912, less than three hours after sideswiping an iceberg.
The new ship will carry almost exactly the same number of passengers (2,400) and crew (900) as the original, but more importantly, it will boast modern navigation and safety technology – including plenty of lifeboats.
After its maiden voyage, the Titanic II will embark on other global routes. The replica is being built in China rather than the original shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“The ship will follow the original journey, carrying passengers from Southampton to New York,” Blue Line chairman Clive Palmer told MSN.
“But she will also circumnavigate the globe, inspiring and enchanting people while attracting unrivalled attention, intrigue and mystery in every port she visits.”
And she will probably inspire a number of “I’m king of the world” moments on her bow.
