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| Titanic 2: Mixed reaction at Southampton launch event | Titanic 2: Mixed reaction at Southampton launch event |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| By Stephen Stafford BBC News, Southampton | By Stephen Stafford BBC News, Southampton |
| The building of a replica of the ill-fated Titanic has received a mixed reaction at a launch event in Southampton. | The building of a replica of the ill-fated Titanic has received a mixed reaction at a launch event in Southampton. |
| The man behind the project, Clive Palmer, was absent from the event in the building which was formerly the Southern Western Hotel. | The man behind the project, Clive Palmer, was absent from the event in the building which was formerly the Southern Western Hotel. |
| But invited local guests watched a video presentation as they ate a breakfast based on Titanic's menu - featuring soda and sultana scones, Parma ham and lamb collops. | But invited local guests watched a video presentation as they ate a breakfast based on Titanic's menu - featuring soda and sultana scones, Parma ham and lamb collops. |
| Briefings about Titanic 2 plans have already been held around the world, but this is surely the most emotive location. | Briefings about Titanic 2 plans have already been held around the world, but this is surely the most emotive location. |
| Just a few hundred metres away is the quayside from where the original Titanic slipped its moorings for its maiden voyage in April 1912. | |
| The hotel was where many of the first-class passengers stayed before embarking. | The hotel was where many of the first-class passengers stayed before embarking. |
| Mr Palmer, an Australian mining billionaire, is not short of either cash or slogans. | Mr Palmer, an Australian mining billionaire, is not short of either cash or slogans. |
| He promises "a ship where dreams will come true", "a class above any ship in the world", to "rebuild a legend" and to "set sail on our own sea". | He promises "a ship where dreams will come true", "a class above any ship in the world", to "rebuild a legend" and to "set sail on our own sea". |
| He laid out the plans for a faithful copy of the Belfast-built original to be constructed in a Chinese shipyard. | He laid out the plans for a faithful copy of the Belfast-built original to be constructed in a Chinese shipyard. |
| It is being constructed at a shipyard in China. Work is due to start in the next few months. | It is being constructed at a shipyard in China. Work is due to start in the next few months. |
| 'Irish jig' | 'Irish jig' |
| Mr Palmer said 40,000 people had already registered for tickets on the first voyage, which will "complete the journey" of those who left Southampton in 1912. | Mr Palmer said 40,000 people had already registered for tickets on the first voyage, which will "complete the journey" of those who left Southampton in 1912. |
| More than 540 people from the city were among the 1,517 who perished when the liner hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. | More than 540 people from the city were among the 1,517 who perished when the liner hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. |
| The Titanic 2 brochure promises an "authentic Titanic experience" with the ship including the grand staircase, reading room and Turkish bath. | The Titanic 2 brochure promises an "authentic Titanic experience" with the ship including the grand staircase, reading room and Turkish bath. |
| Key differences from the original include air conditioning, a hospital, helicopter landing pad - and most notably, a modern quota of lifeboats. | Key differences from the original include air conditioning, a hospital, helicopter landing pad - and most notably, a modern quota of lifeboats. |
| As with the original, there will be first, second and third classes of passenger and they will not be allowed to mingle. Ticket prices are yet to be revealed. | As with the original, there will be first, second and third classes of passenger and they will not be allowed to mingle. Ticket prices are yet to be revealed. |
| Mr Palmer he insists he will travel in third class for "the human experience". | Mr Palmer he insists he will travel in third class for "the human experience". |
| "To have a bit of Irish stew, to grab a fiddle and a drum and do an Irish jig - what more could a man want than that?" he said. | "To have a bit of Irish stew, to grab a fiddle and a drum and do an Irish jig - what more could a man want than that?" he said. |
| The scale of the loss in Southampton was felt for generations and families with Titanic connections have mixed feelings about the plans for a recreation. | |
| 'Painful stories' | 'Painful stories' |
| Dave Fredericks, whose great-grandfather Walter survived the disaster, said he was "not convinced". | |
| "It was a maritime disaster which affected this city and although there are no survivors left, there are stories passed down and those are quite painful. | "It was a maritime disaster which affected this city and although there are no survivors left, there are stories passed down and those are quite painful. |
| "Dressing up as characters who perished is distasteful." | "Dressing up as characters who perished is distasteful." |
| However, Mary South, whose grandfather, a first-class steward, also died, admitted she was "warming" to Titanic 2. | |
| "With the centenary everything was a bit raw in Southampton, but now I'm beginning to think it would be nice to hark back to see what travelling was really like at that time. | "With the centenary everything was a bit raw in Southampton, but now I'm beginning to think it would be nice to hark back to see what travelling was really like at that time. |
| "The thought of seeing such an iconic silhouette back in Southampton will be quite something." | "The thought of seeing such an iconic silhouette back in Southampton will be quite something." |
| There is undoubtedly enduring interest in the Titanic story - Belfast and Southampton both opened museums dedicated to the liner during the centenary year. | There is undoubtedly enduring interest in the Titanic story - Belfast and Southampton both opened museums dedicated to the liner during the centenary year. |
| For council leader Richard Williams the project is "really exciting" and a chance raise Southampton's profile. | |
| "It keeps the focus on the city in a world market and that's really important for the cruise industry but also the wider economy. | "It keeps the focus on the city in a world market and that's really important for the cruise industry but also the wider economy. |
| "I hope the way it develops is respectful to the memory of the people from the city who were lost. | |
| "There is still that personal feeling of loss here - it's important there is a balance there." | |
| Mr Palmer dismisses accusations the project is in bad taste. | Mr Palmer dismisses accusations the project is in bad taste. |
| "It's in good taste - I respect all those people who were lost, they are still contributing today to an ideal. | "It's in good taste - I respect all those people who were lost, they are still contributing today to an ideal. |
| "We will take up the torch and we will complete the journey," he said. | "We will take up the torch and we will complete the journey," he said. |
| There may still be scepticism and questions over taste, but if the distinctive four funnels of Titanic 2 steam out of Southampton Water in 2016 as planned, the world will certainly be watching. | There may still be scepticism and questions over taste, but if the distinctive four funnels of Titanic 2 steam out of Southampton Water in 2016 as planned, the world will certainly be watching. |