It’s the 101st anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic — subject of Leo and Kate’s eternal love story — but reviving ancient horror and tragedy isn’t on the minds of most today.
But it is on the mind of Australian millionaire Clive Palmer, who wants to rebuild the infamous ship by 2016.
Palmer has held onto the Titanic — site of the most doomed peacetime maritime tragedy — as a symbol that links three continents, which is why he plans to build a replica of the ill-fated ship and launch it from Southampton, England — the starting port of the original Titanic’s maiden voyage, according to the BBC.
Palmer said he “might as well spend [the money], not leave it to the kids to spend; there will be enough left for them anyway,” at the unveiling of the Titanic II plans in February.
There are a billion other things Palmer could buy with the estimated $1.6 billion it will take to build the ocean behemoth.
Three hundred thousand wells in water-poor communities. Eight thousand four-year college educations. Sixteen million kegs of beer.
And I guess he doesn’t have any sort of duty to the world to make it a better place. Palmer is a grown man, and only he controls his money. If he wants to build the damn thing, by all means, go for it.
But it’s a waste of money.
The last person to attempt rebuilding the Titanic, businessman Sarel Gous, had to stop because of costs and impossibility, but if Palmer is the idealist he claims to be, this will happen.
While touting the ship’s ability to connect the world, Palmer still plans to keep each of the three classes of passengers apart. Hypocritical much?
They will, however, be able to switch between classes (spending two days in each) to get the “full experience.”
While this might seem like every Titanic enthusiast’s wet dream, it’s also a hare-brained idea.
Sure, promoting connectivity around the world is a great idea, but if that’s your passion, that and big dreams, why not help others instead of creating some money-making scheme for bored rich people?
According to Palmer, 40,000 people have expressed interest in tickets for the eventual voyages of this floating rich kids’ playground.
I understand that it’s romantic, and someone will have fun messing around on the Edwardian gym equipment Palmer plans to include.
But this assumes the Titanic II makes it past the first passage.
Which brings me to the most important point: 1,502 people died on this ship the first time around. Yes, the dramatized situation surrounding the incident doesn’t happen often, but this is just tempting fate.
The plan includes enough lifeboats and modern technology that keeps most ships safe in the modern age, but there will also be a mock-up of the room from which the crew members sent the infamous final S.O.S.
Further touting the ship’s greater safety, Palmer also said global warming was a blessing in disguise, because fewer icebergs mean less of a chance to sink.
The types of people who could afford a cruise on a period-intensive ship like the planned Titanic II are most likely rich and uninterested in the hippie-sounding worldwide connection of the ship.
Maybe I’m a little too superstitious. If I’m going to choose something to be superstitious about, it might as well be a crash that killed many people being recreated by a crazy man who can’t think of anything better to do with his money.
