Titanic II

This article is about the Clive Palmer project. For the 2010 disaster film, see Titanic II (film).

3D rendering of Titanic II
History
Name: Titanic II
Owner: Blue Star Line Pty. Ltd., Brisbane, Australia
Builder: CSC Jinling, Nanjing[1]
Cost: $500 million (estimated)[1]
Status: Abandoned[2]
General characteristics
Class and type: Modern interpretation of Olympic-class ocean liner
Tonnage: 56,000 GT (estimate)
Length: 269.15 m (883 ft 0 in)
Beam: 32.2 m (105 ft 8 in)
Height: 53.35 m (175 ft 0 in)
Draught:

7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) (normal)

7.926 m (26 ft 0 in) (max)

Depth: 19.74 m (64 ft 9 in)
Decks: 10
Installed power:
  • 2 × Wärtsilä 12V46F
  • 2 × Wärtsilä 8L46F
  • 48,000 kW (64,000 hp) (combined)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric; three azimuth thrusters; (3 × 10 MW) [3]
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (maximum)[4]
Capacity: 1,680 (double capacity); 2,435 (maximum)
Crew: 900

Titanic II is a proposed ocean liner, to be built as a modern-day replica of the Olympic-class RMS Titanic. The new ship will have a gross tonnage (GT) of 56,000 while the original ship measured about 46,000 gross register tons (GRT).[note 1] The project was announced by Australian billionaire Clive Palmer in April 2012, as the flagship of a proposed cruise company Blue Star Line Pty. Ltd. of Brisbane, Australia.[5] The intended launch date was originally set in 2016,[6] with the ship sailing from Southampton to New York within the same year.[7][8] In 2015 a spokesman for Palmer announced the ship was delayed until 2018 and at the same time the ship route was changed from the original Southampton to New York to sailing from Jiangsu, China going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[9] As of October 2016, construction had not begun on the vessel.[10]

Previous projects

The original RMS Titanic in 1912.

The concept of a functioning replica of the Titanic has been explored several times, especially following the resurgence of interest following the release of the film Titanic in 1997. The most widely publicized project was that of South African businessman Sarel Gous in 1998.[11] The South African project began in 1998, and was one of the subjects of an article in Popular Mechanics magazine in September of that year.[12] The article discussed the changes to the original design required to produce a safe and economically viable ship, including a welded rather than riveted hull, diesel-electric propulsion in place of steam engines, and a bulbous bow. The article concluded that although the various Titanic revival projects would cost $400–$600 million, they could be economically viable.

Although he originally intended to construct the ship in Durban, Gous presented his £500 million proposal to Belfast City Council in June 2000.[13] He commissioned Olsen Designs to design the ship, advised by Harland and Wolff Technical Services who produced a feasibility study, and Callcott Anderson to design the interior. In November 2000, he began his attempts to raise capital, including through government grants and a stock market flotation.[14] After signing an agreement with a Monaco-based investment banking company, Gous claimed that construction would begin at Harland and Wolff within nine months.[15] The design changed repeatedly, with claims emerging of 'the world's largest liner' with capacity for 2,600 passengers, and increasingly divergent plans for a heliport, swimming pools and discos eventually being released.[16] In 2006, after repeatedly failing to secure investment, the project was abandoned.[16]

Design stage

Clive Palmer, chairman of the Blue Star Line.

Clive Palmer first announced the project in a press conference on 30 April 2012,[17] following the signature of a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Chinese shipyard CSC Jinling ten days before.[18] On 19 June, it was announced that Finnish naval architecture firm Deltamarin Ltd. had been commissioned to undertake the design of the ship,[19][20] and on 17 July a preliminary general arrangement was published.[21]

In October 2012, Blue Star Lines announced that Titanic expert Steve Hall had been appointed as Design Consultant and Historian for the project,[22] and that Titanic interiors expert Daniel Klistorner had been appointed as Interior Design Consultant and Historian.[23] Hall and Klistorner had previously co-authored books such as Titanic: The Ship Magnificent and Titanic in Photographs, and gave a technical presentation at the unveiling of the designs in New York, as well as at the dinner in London.[23] Later that month, it was announced that an advisory board would be formed to provide "suggestions and recommendations to Blue Star Line to ensure the Titanic II appropriately and respectfully pays homage to Titanic, her crew and passengers." Terry Ismay, the great-great nephew of White Star Line chairman and Titanic survivor J. Bruce Ismay will be a member of the board,[24] as well as Helen Benziger, great-granddaughter of Titanic survivor Margaret "Molly" Brown.[25]

The design for the Titanic II was unveiled at worldwide launch events in Macau (China), New York (United States), Halifax (Canada), London & Southampton (United Kingdom). The gala event in New York was the official Global Launch and was held aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City on 26 February 2013.[26][27] The gala dinner in London (UK) was held at the Natural History Museum on 2 March, and was accompanied by a display of items salvaged from the Titanic.[28] There was also a breakfast held in Southampton on 13 March.

On 16 April 2013 it was announced that Deltamarin had been contracted for the project development phase, and would be responsible for coordinating the various parties involved in the project, including the shipyard, architects, interior designers and operations managers.[29] The feasibility study was complete, and the project development phase was ongoing. The signature of a contract and keel laying was expected in March 2014.[30]

Further contracts and agreements relating to the design and construction were announced later in 2013; the appointment of V.Ships Leisure as ship management services partner,[31] and of Tillberg Design as provider of architectural and interior design services.[32][33] On 17 July 2013, Blue Star Line announced that the classification society Lloyd's Register has joined the Titanic II project.[34] The work carried by Lloyd's would ensure that the ship's design complied with the current SOLAS regulations.

Model testing using a 9.3-metre (31 ft) wooden model was undertaken in September 2013 at the Hamburgische Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt (HSVA). Resistance and powering tests were carried out in a 300-metre (980 ft) towing tank.[35][36]

In an interview in February 2014, Palmer claimed that keel laying would take place in September 2014. He cautioned that the project was "a big job", that the original Titanic took seven years to build while they have been working for only two and a half, and said that he would have liked to start sooner but "wanted to make sure we don't make any mistakes". He claimed that a selection of cabins were being constructed on land for approval, and that this would be completed by July 2014.[37]

In April 2016 the administrators for Palmer's closed nickel refining company, Queensland Nickel alleged that almost $A6 million had been taken from that company to pay for the development and marketing of the Titanic II. At that time the administrators indicated that they would seek to recover this money.[38]

Design and construction

The gross tonnage of the replica will be 56,000 GT, considerably more than that of the original.[note 1]

Comparison with the original RMS Titanic

The ship is designed to be as similar in internal and external appearance to the Titanic as possible. However, today's safety regulations and economic considerations dictated several major changes to the design, including:

A preliminary comparison of the profiles of the Titanic (blue) and the Titanic II (red).

Power plant and propulsion

For economic reasons, the steam engines and coal-fired boilers of the original Titanic were replaced with a modern diesel-electric propulsion system. The space which housed the boilers would have been used for crew quarters and ships systems. Power was to be produced by four Wärtsilä 46F medium-speed four-stroke diesel generating sets; two twelve-cylinder 12V46F engines producing 14,400 kilowatts (19,300 hp) each, and two eight-cylinder 8L46F engines producing 9,600 kilowatts (12,900 hp) each, running on heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil.[39] Propulsion would have been by three azimuth thrusters which would also be used for maneuvering, while the replica of the rudder of the Titanic II is purely cosmetic, and would not have extended substantially below the waterline.[39] The positioning of the azimuth thrusters necessitated the stern being made substantially more blunt than the original.[39]

View of a corridor on the RMS Queen Mary showing the sheer. This feature was to be lost on the Titanic II.

Interior

The interior of the ship was intended to be as similar as possible to the original. Tillberg Design of Sweden was contracted to produce drawings replicating Titanic's original interiors. However, the original wooden panelling does not conform to modern fire regulations, so as in Queen Mary 2, veneers would have had to be used. Plans showed a layout broadly similar to the original, but with the third-class cabins modernised, and consideration being given to en-suite cabins throughout the ship. The room freed up by eliminating the steam boilers of the original ship would have been used for crew quarters and various services.[39]

Criticism

The Titanic II represents the first major passenger vessel constructed in China, a country with much more experience of building cargo ships than cruise ships, and a significant investment would have been required to ensure it met the much more stringent safety requirements for passenger vessels.[45]

The Chinese state-owned CSC Jinling shipyard has never built a large passenger vessel. In addition, it has no drydock, instead using side launching from a 200 m slipway.[46] The 269 m Titanic II would have been the largest side-launched vessel in history by a huge margin,[47] and would have required a significant extension to the shipyard's facilities.

Representatives from the shipyard questioned whether the ship could be completed by 2016, and emphasized that no contract had been signed.[45]

Clive Palmer has been described as an "eccentric billionaire" with a reputation for bizarre publicity stunts, such as the attempt to create a massive Jurassic Park style dinosaur theme park at his golf resort.[48][49][50] It has also been noted that the publicity surrounding the Titanic II coincided with Palmer's announcement of his entry into Australian federal politics, which was made immediately following the Titanic II conference.[51] Palmer had previously claimed that he was the target of a conspiracy involving Barack Obama, the CIA, the Rockefeller Foundation and Greenpeace, who he believed were attempting to close down his mining operation.[52] In 2010, Palmer started a company called Zeppelin International, with the intention of making a commercially viable Zeppelin.[53] After the plan came to nothing, it was ridiculed as the 'bizarre move of the year' by Australian business website Smartcompany.[54] He has gained a reputation in Australia for floating ambitious and unusual business ideas which he fails to see through, and the Titanic II has been described as "a classic Clive Palmer announcement".[55]

The idea of a commercialised replica of the Titanic has itself been criticised, being described as "insensitive" and "a mockery of the memory of those who died".[56] Cunard Line, which merged with the White Star Line, stated that they "have always been very mindful and very respectful of such a tragic event [and] don't think that building a replica or a 'II' is appropriate."[57]

Palmer's alleged use of funds drawn from Queensland Nickel for the Titanic II project was criticised by the administrators appointed for that company after it closed. In their April 2016 report, the administrators stated that payments from Queensland Nickel to Blue Star Line had been "uncommercial and director-related transactions".[38] Palmer has rejected the claims made against him in the report, including those related to the Titanic II.[58]

Project collapse

When the project was first announced in 2012, Palmer claimed that construction would begin before the end of the year, with a 2016 launch. The following year reports emerged that Clive Palmer was experiencing financial difficulties.[59][60] The start of construction was postponed to March 2014,[61] then to late 2014.[62] When construction had still not begun in 2015 a spokesman for Palmer said the project had merely been delayed, and that the new ship would be launched in 2018 - two years later than initially planned.[63] However Deltamarin had told an Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist that work on the Titanic II project had been halted[64] while workers at the Chinese shipyard identified as the likely site of construction were highly skeptical that the project would ever move beyond the proposal stage[65] and the Blue Star Line trademark was "abandoned".[66] Queensland Nickel went bankrupt and Palmer faced freezing of personal assets to recoup money owed the company's employees and creditors.[67] He did not stand for re-election to his House of Representatives seat but stated that he might resume work on the project in his retirement.[68]

As of October 2016 there was no signed contract with any shipyard and Deltamarin referred all questions about the project status to the Blue Star Line in April 2016.[69]

Unrelated project

Clive Palmer's project should not be confused with a Chinese Titanic replica that reportedly commenced construction in 2015. Commissioned by Seven Star Energy Investment, it is to function as a theme park attraction and a stationary floating hotel on the River Qi in Sichuan. Unlike Palmer's Titanic II, the all-Chinese replica is not intended to ever leave the country or sail on any ocean. In August 2016, it was reported that parts for the Chinese replica would be assembled by the end of the year, and that the finished ship will open to the public in 2018.[70] Since Palmer has also cited 2018 as his new target date, and since both ships would be built by Chinese workers, the actually unrelated projects are prone to confusion.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The original Titanic had a gross register tonnage of 46,328 GRT, which is not directly comparable with modern gross tonnage. However, as one register ton is equal to 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3), an approximate value of 39,640 GT can be calculated by using the formulae given in the The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.

References

  1. 1 2 Cruise Ship Orderbook. Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  2. ↑ Claire, McNeilly (May 10, 2016). "Plans to build replica Titanic all at sea as Oz tycoon Clive Palmer gets cold feet". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. ↑ . Deltamarin Blog: Updated Titanic II Tests Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  4. ↑ The Titanic sails again: Australian tycoon unveils plans for perfect replica of doomed vessel (except with a few more lifeboats). Daily Mail, 25 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  5. ↑ Calligeros, Marissa (30 April 2012). "Clive Palmer plans to build Titanic II". Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ↑ Fickling, David (30 April 2012). "Titanic II to Be Built by Billionaire Palmer, Chinese Yard". Bloomberg.
  7. ↑ Rourke, Alison (30 April 2012). "Titanic II announced". Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Titanic II confirmed will set sail from Southampton". Daily Mail. London. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "Titanic 2 ticket demand renewed following latest launch news". CruiseNews. Dansway Communications LTD. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Browne, Amy (August 17, 2016). "Inside Titanic II as replica of doomed liner prepares to set sail in 2018". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  11. ↑ Ringshaw, Grant (19 November 2000). "A Titanic task". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  12. ↑ Wilson, James (September 1998). Titanic Reborn. Popular Mechanics. pp. 56–59. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Tycoon presents Titanic II proposal". BBC News. 9 June 2000. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Ringshaw, Grant (19 November 2000). "A Titanic task". London: Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  15. ↑ Oldham, Jeanette (20 November 2000). "Dreams afloat to build Titanic II". HighBeam Research. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  16. 1 2 Louis, Epstein. "To Build a New Titanic?". Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Clive Palmer Launches Titanic II". Blue Star Line. 30 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "MOU CSC Jinling and Blue Star Line". Blue Star Line. 20 April 2012.
  19. ↑ Jabour, Bridie (19 June 2012). "Titanic II a step closer to reality". Brisbane Times.
  20. ↑ "Global Ship Design Firm Commissioned to Titanic II Project". Blue Star Line. 19 June 2012.
  21. ↑ "First Glimpse At Titanic II Plans". Blue Star Line. 19 June 2012.
  22. ↑ "Renown Titanic Historian Joins Titanic II Project". Blue Star Line. 1 October 2012.
  23. 1 2 "Titanic Researcher and Interiors Expert Joins Blue Star Line". Blue Star Line. 11 October 2012.
  24. ↑ "White Star Line Chairman Descendant Joins Titanic II Project". Blue Star Line. 19 October 2012.
  25. ↑ "Molly Brown Descendant Joins Titanic II Project". Blue Star Line. 21 October 2012.
  26. ↑ "New Dates for Titanic II Global Launch and Events". Blue Star Line. 20 December 2012.
  27. ↑ "Design for Titanic II to be unveiled in NYC". MYFOXNY.COM. 3 October 2012.
  28. ↑ "London Event To Celebrate Titanic II Project". Blue Star Line. 9 October 2012.
  29. ↑ Crook, Andrew. "Deltamarin to manage Titanic II project development". Blue Star Line - Delta Marin Group via setcorp.ru. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Titanic II tycoon Clive Palmer plans movie cameo". London: Daily Telegraph. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  31. ↑ "V.SHIPS Leisure Appointed To Titanic II". Blue Star Line. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  32. ↑ "Titanic II Engages World's Leading Marine Architecture and Interior Design Company". Blue Star Line. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  33. ↑ "TITANIC II". Tillberg Design. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  34. ↑ "Lloyd's Register Joins Titanic II Project". Blue Star Line. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  35. ↑ "Clive Palmer announces Titanic II model tests to be held in Germany". Robert's Cruise & Tour Leading E.U. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  36. ↑ "Titanic II: Replica of proposed liner tested". British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  37. ↑ Grattan, Michelle. "Politics with Michelle Grattan: Clive Palmer". Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  38. 1 2 Koziol, Michael (13 April 2016). "Queensland Nickel 'paid $6 million' towards Clive Palmer's stalled Titanic II project". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Deltamarin. "General Arrangement, Titanic II Project" (PDF). Blue Star Line. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  40. ↑ "Get a Glimpse of Titanic II". Cruise News. 25 July 2012.
  41. ↑ Vandersteel, William. "SS Oceanic; A Matter of Design". ssmaritime.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  42. ↑ "The Return of a Legend". Blue Star Line. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  43. ↑ "Titanic II: Return Of The Legend". Blue Star Line. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  44. ↑ "Titanic II Model Test - Hamburg, Germany - September 2013" Titanic 2 Blue Star Line
  45. 1 2 Yi, Zheng. "Titanic II agreed but no contract signed". Global Times. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  46. ↑ "Our Partners". Blue Star Line. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  47. ↑ Khetan, Ashok. "World's Biggest Side Launch of Ship in Gujarat". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  48. ↑ Alwyn-Jones, John. "Clive Palmer goes even more eccentric". E-Global Travel Media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  49. ↑ "The Titanic, a dinosaur, JFK and the Australian PGA Championship". aussiegolfer.net. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  50. ↑ "Is an Australian billionaire about to launch the real-life Jurassic Park?". London: Daily Mail. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  51. ↑ McKechnie, Kirrin. "Clive Palmer's Titanic bid for federal politics". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  52. ↑ Farr, Malcolm (22 March 2012). "Mining magnate Clive Palmer says CIA is behind campaign to kill coal industry". News.com.au. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  53. ↑ Cowie, Tom. "Clive Palmer's magnificent flying machines". Crikey.com.au. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  54. ↑ Thomson, James. "The best & the worst of 2010". Smartcompany. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  55. ↑ Thomson, James. "How Clive Palmer funds his amazing adventures". Smartcompany. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  56. ↑ Gaynor, Hazel. "Sinking feeling: unease about Titanic II plan". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  57. ↑ Stafford, Stephen (5 March 2013). "Titanic 2: Mixed reaction at Southampton launch event". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  58. ↑ Remeikis, Amy; Danckert, Sarah (13 April 2016). "Queensland Nickel report 'filled with innuendo': Clive Palmer". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  59. ↑ Khadem, Nassim. "Clive Palmer disputes 'beat-up' about Queensland Nickel's future". BRW. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  60. ↑ Mccullough, James (22 May 2013). "Clive Palmer still Queensland's richest person". news.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  61. ↑ "Australian tycoon says Titanic project is about love". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  62. ↑ "Deltamarin designs Titanic II". Deltamarin. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  63. ↑ "Titanic 2 ticket demand renewed following latest launch news". CruiseNews. Dansway Communications LTD. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  64. ↑ McCutcheon, Peter (27 March 2015). "Clive Palmer's empire feeling the pinch from falling iron ore prices". ABC News. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  65. ↑ "Palmer's Titanic II plans all but scuttled". 9News.com Finance. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  66. ↑ "Trademark Category > Chemical Products > TITANIC II BLUE STAR LINE". LegalForce Trademarks. Trademarkia, Inc. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  67. ↑ Branco, Brace (April 22, 2016). "Queensland Nickel liquidators could freeze Clive Palmer's assets". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  68. ↑ Jeans, David (May 7, 2016). "Is mining billionaire Clive Palmer's Titanic II dream under water? Finnish shipbuilder 'has stopped working on plans' to design a replica of the doomed ocean liner". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  69. ↑ "Deltamarin Designs Titanic II - April 13, 2016". Deltamarin Ship Design. Deltamarin Ltd. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  70. ↑ Yuan, Fang (August 17, 2016). "Life-size replica of Titanic to be assembled late this year". China.org.cn. Retrieved 23 August 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.