Australian billionaire Clive Palmer set out to build a new Titanic, and will finally see his vision come to life in 2018, when the nearly identical replica is scheduled for its maiden voyage. His company Blue Star Line was initially set to launch the ship in 2016, but plans were pushed back. The original RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on 14 April 1912 and sank less than three hours later. Palmer’s project was met with criticism by some of the families of non-survivors, understandably so, but this has not affected growing excitement toward the modern $600 million luxury liner. Palmer has also announced that he wanted to honor the victims by re-building it. The company will offer first, second, and third-class tickets — just like the original — but with improved safety features, according to James McDonald, Blue Star Line’s global marketing director. “The new Titanic will of course have modern evacuation procedures, satellite controls, digital navigation and radar systems and all those things you’d expect on a 21st-century ship.” The original Titanic departed Southampton, England, for New York while Palmer’s will depart from Jiangsu and make its way to Dubai.
